BSI85 


908 


Division    -D  .S   I  B  5 

**" ' '  q  o  8 


BY     THE     SAME     AUTHOR 


BIBLE-QUIZ 

A  BOOKLET  OF    ONE    THOUSAND    QUESTIONS 

AND  ANSWERS  FOR  USE  IN  YOUNG  PEOPLE'S 

SOCIETIES  AND  SUNDAY  SCHOOLS. 

Paper,  16mo. 

10  cents  a  copy.    $1.00  a  dozen- 

$6.00  a  hundred. 


LUTHERAN  PUBLICATION  SOCIETY 
1424  Arch  Street,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


beiectior 


r  ized 


Bible  Gems 


SELECTED  AND  ARRANGED  BV 

Rev.  P.  C.  CROIX,  D.  D., 

LEBANON,  PA. 


PUBLISHED  FOR  THE  AUTHOR 
BY  THE 

LUTHERAN  PUBLICATION  SOCIETY, 

PHILADELPHIA,  PA. 


Copyright,  1901 

BY 

P.  C.  CROI,!,. 


PREFACE. 

Some  years  ago  we  published  a  little  book- 
let of  questions  and  answers  from  God's 
word  and  named  it  "  Bible  Quiz."  Its  object 
was  to  stimulate  among  the  young  a  closer 
search  into  the  treasures  of  the  divine  book, 
and  thus  help  form  a  more  general  acquaint- 
ance with  its  structure  and  its  rich  and  varied 
contents.  We  believe,  from  its  general  sales 
and  the  kind  letters  the  author  has  received 
from  many  who  are  using  it,  that  it  has  filled 
a  felt  want  and  been  productive  of  good. 

The  same  motives  have  prompted  us  to 
send  forth  this  companion  volume.  It  is  our 
opinion  that  in  our  day  the  committing  of 
Scripture  passages  has  largely  fallen  out  of 
use  in  home  and  school.  Beyond,  possibly, 
the  memorizing  of  "golden  texts"  (and  in 
many  schools  this  is  sadly  neglected),  there 
is  no  effort  made  by  our  present-day  Sunday 
schools  in  committing  to  memory  the  blessed 
truths  of  God's  word.  The  day  of  red  and 
blue  tickets  has  gone  by,  and  so  has  much  of 
the  Bible  reading  and  study  in  the  home, 
where,  alas !  the  old-time  family  altar  has 
been  almost  universally  broken  down. 

We  feel  that  by  placing  the  Scriptures  in 

tempting   tidbits  before  our  young   people 

there  may  be  awakened  a  zealous  desire  on 

the  part  of  parents  and  teachers,  as  well  as 

(3) 


4  PREFACE. 

children,  to  make  these  "  Gems  "  their  own 
mental  possessions.  Other  literary  gems, 
poetic  and  prose,  are  taught  our  children  in 
school,  and  a  healthy  rivalry  is  often  created 
in  classes  in  the  memorizing  of  these  richest 
thoughts  of  our  English  and  American  litera- 
ture. If  it  is  worth  while  to  commit  to 
memory  the  best  thoughts  of  a  Burns,  Scott, 
Shakespeare,  Wordsworth,  Browning,  Gray, 
Tennyson,  Cowper,  Young,  Campbell,  Bry- 
ant, Longfellow,  Whittier,  Saxe,  Lowell, 
Riley,  Carleton,  Field,  and  others  in  poetry, 
and  to  acquaint  one's  self  in  the  best  products 
of  an  endless  list  of  classic  prose  writers, 
from  Addison  to  Howells,  then  surely  it 
should  be  regarded  as  imperative,  for  knowl- 
edge's sake  alone,  to  know  some  of  the  most 
stirring  words  of  the  thirty-six  authors,  who, 
as  the  inspired  amanuenses  of  Jehovah,  wrote 
for  us  the  Book  of  all  books.  Their  style 
will  be  found  elegant  in  diction  and  classic- 
ally strong.  It  is  our  conviction  that  this 
memorizing  will  follow  much  more  prob- 
ably when  such  ' '  Gems .' '  are  placed  in  con- 
venient form  before  our  children.  So  much 
of  literary  beauty,  like  the  gold  nuggets 
among  the  quartz,  is  unknown  because  it 
is  a  hid  treasure  in  the  mine  of  history, 
prophecy,  or  exhortation,  of  which  the  Holy 
Scriptures  are  largely  composed. 

In  this  little  book  some  of  these  Bible 
Gems  are  taken  from  their  proper  settings 
and   placed  before  us  for  admiration,  and 


PREFACE.  5 

many  for  mental  mastery  and  possession  as 
literary  "Gems."  It  will  be  easy  to  place 
them  back  into  their  proper  surroundings 
(for  these  are  indicated  herewith),  and  thus 
give  them  their  original  force  as  regards  the 
mind  of  their  several  authors,  or  the  mind  of 
God,  who  inspired  them.  Thus  they  will 
charm  by  their  own  beauty  and  force  and 
prove  a  mighty  factor  for  the  uplift  of  life 
and  character  in  their  proper  connection. 
Parents  and  teachers  should  everywhere  en- 
courage the  memorizing  among  the  young  of 
many  of  these  passages.  They  will  then 
prove  a  strength  and  grace  in  their  lives. 

P.  C.  C. 
"The  Crow's  Nest," 
Mt.  Gretna,  Pa.,  July,  1907. 


BIBLE  GEMS 

CHAPTER  I. 

THE  MAJESTY  AND  POWER  OF  GOD. 

[The  chapter  headings  will  serve  in  the 
classification  of  the  "  Gems  "  selected.  The 
specimens  given  may  not  exhaust  the  sub- 
jects treated,  while  some  extracts  might  as 
well  be  placed  under  other  captions ;  but 
these  captions  will  help  the  more  orderly  ar- 
rangement and  serve  the  student  in  the 
mastery  of  Bible  passages  by  treating  the 
beauties  considered  in  subjects.  Any  teacher 
may  find  it  possible  to  augment  the  lists 
here  given  ;  but  in  order  not  to  make  this 
handbook  too  voluminous,  we  will  not  strive 
to  be  exhaustive,  for  to  be  this  would  be  to 
reprint  the  greater  portion  of  the  Bible  itself. 
L,et  these  specimens  and  this  arrangement 
suffice  to  prove  the  literary  charm  of  this 
Book  of  books, — The  Author.] 


The  Creation.  In  the  beginning  God  cre- 
ated the  heaven  and  the  earth.  And  the 
earth  was  without  form,  and  void  ;  and  dark- 
ness was  upon  the  face  of  the  deep.  And 
the  Spirit  of  God  moved  upon  the  face  of  the 
waters.  And  God  said,  Let  there  be  light : 
(7) 


8  BIBLE  GEMS. 

and  there  was  light.  And  God  saw  the  light, 
that  it  was  good  :  and  God  divided  the  light 
from  the  darkness.  And  God  called  the 
light  Day,  and  the  darkness  he  called  Night. 
And  the  evening  and  the  morning  were  the 
first  day. — Gen.  i.  1-5.  (Read  entire  chap- 
ter.) 

The  Curse  After  the  Fall.  And  the  Lord 
God  said  unto  the  woman,  What  is  this  that 
thou  hast  done  ?  And  the  woman  said,  The 
serpent  beguiled  me,  and  I  did  eat.  And  the 
Lord  God  said  unto  the  serpent,  Because 
thou  hast  done  this,  thou  art  cursed  above 
all  cattle,  and  above  every  beast  of  the  field  ; 
upon  thy  belly  shalt  thou  go,  and  dust  shalt 
thou  eat  all  the  days  of  thy  life  :  and  I  will 
put  enmity  between  thee  and  the  woman, 
and  between  thy  seed'and  her  seed  ;  it  shall 
bruise  thy  head,  and  thou  shalt  bruise  his 
heel.  Unto  the  woman  he  said,  I  will  greatly 
multiply  thy  sorrow  and  thy  conception  ;  in 
sorrow  thou  shalt  bring  forth  children  ;  and 
thy  desire  shall  be  to  thy  husband,  and  he 
shall  rule  over  thee.  And  unto  Adam  he 
said,  Because  thou  hast  hearkened  unto  the 
voice  of  thy  wife,  and  hast  eaten  of  the  tree, 
of  which  I  commanded  thee,  saying,  Thou 
shalt  not  eat  of  it :  cursed  is  the  ground  for 
thy  sake  ;  in  sorrow  shalt  thou  eat  of  it  all 
the  days  of  thy  life ;  thorns  also  and  this- 
tles shall  it  bring  forth  to  thee  ;  and  thou 
shalt  eat  the  herb  of  the  field  ;  in  the  sweat 


BIBLE  GEMS.  9 

of  thy  face  shalt  thou  eat  bread,  till  thou  re- 
turn unto  the  ground  ;  for  out  of  it  wast  thou 
taken  :  for  dust  thou  art,  and  unto  dust  shalt 
thou  return.  .  .  .  And  the  Lord  God  said,  Be- 
hold, the  man  is  become  as  one  of  us,  to  know 
good  and  evil  :  and  now,  lest  he  put  forth  his 
hand,  and  take  also  of  the  tree  of  life,  and 
eat,  and  live  forever  :  therefore  the  Lord  God 
sent  him  forth  from  the  garden  of  Eden,  to 
till  the  ground  from  whence  he  was  taken.  So 
he  drove  out  the  man  :  and  he  placed  at  the 
east  of  the  garden  of  Eden  cherubim,  and  a 
naming  sword  which  turned  every  way,  to 
keep  the  way  of  the  tree  of  life. — Gen.  iii. 
13-19,  22-24. 

The  Curse  of  Cain.  And  the  Lord  said 
unto  Cain,  Where  is  Abel  thy  brother  ?  And 
he  said,  I  know  not :  Am  I  my  brother's 
keeper  ?  And  he  said,  What  hast  thou  done  ? 
the  voice  of  thy  brother's  blood  crieth  unto 
me  from  the  ground.  And  now  art  thou 
cursed  from  the  earth,  which  hath  opened 
her  mouth  to  receive  thy  brother's  blood 
from  thy  hand.  When  thou  tillest  the  ground , 
it  shall  not  henceforth  yield  unto  thee  her 
strength ;  a  fugitive  and  a  vagabond  shalt 
thou  be  in  the  earth. — Gen.  iv.  9-12. 

The  Flood.  And  God  saw  that  the  wick- 
edness of  man  was  great  in  the  earth,  and 
that  every  imagination  of  the  thoughts  of  his 
heart  was  only  evil  continually.     And  it  re- 


10  BIBLE  GEMS. 

pented  the  Lord  that  he  had  made  man  on  the 
earth,  and  it  grieved  him  at  his  heart.  And 
the  Lord  said,  I  will  destroy  man  whom  I 
have  created  from  the  face  of  the  earth  ;  both 
man,  and  beast,  and  the  creeping  thing,  and 
the  fowls  of  the  air  ;  for  it  repenteth  me  that 
I  have  made  them.  .  .  .  And  the  Lord  said 
unto  Noah,  Come  thou  and  all  thy  house  into 
the  ark  ;  for  thee  have  I  seen  righteous  before 
me  in  this  generation.  .  .  .  And  the  flood  was 
forty  days  upon  the  earth  ;  and  the  waters 
increased,  and  bare  up  the  ark,  and  it  was 
lifted  up  above  the  earth.  And  the  waters 
prevailed,  and  were  increased  greatly  upon 
the  earth;  and  the  ark  went  upon  the  face  of 
the  waters.  And  the  waters  prevailed  ex- 
ceedingly upon  the  earth  ;  and  all  the  high 
hills,  that  were  under  the  whole  heaven, 
were  covered.  Fifteen  cubits  upward  did  the 
waters  prevail  ;  and  the  mountains  were  cov- 
ered. And  all  flesh  died  that  moved  upon 
the  earth,  both  of  fowl,  and  of  cattle,  and  of 
beast,  and  of  every  creeping  thing  that  creep- 
eth  upon  the  earth,  and  every  man  :  all  in 
whose  nostrils  was  the  breath  of  life,  of  all 
that  was  in  the  dry  land,  died.  And  every  liv- 
ing substance  was  destroyed  which  was  upon 
the  face  of  the  ground,  both  man,  and  cattle, 
and  the  creeping  things,  and  the  fowl  of  the 
heaven  ;  and  they  were  destroyed  from  the 
earth  :  and  Noah  only  remained  alive,  and 
they  that  were  with  him  in  the  ark.  And 
the  waters  prevailed  upon  the  earth  a  hun- 


BIBLE  GEMS.  11 

dred  and  fifty  days.—  Gen.  vi.  5-7  ;  vii.  I, 
17-24. 

Confusion  of  Tongues.  And  the  Lord 
came  down  to  see  the  city  and  the  tower, 
which  the  children  of  men  builded.  And  the 
Lord  said,  Behold,  the  people  is  one,  and  they 
have  all  one  language  ;  and  this  they  begin  to 
do  :  and  now  nothing  will  be  restrained  from 
them,  which  they  have  imagined  to  do.  Go 
to,  let  us  go  down,  and  there  confound  their 
language,  that  they  may  not  understand  one 
another's  speech.  So  the  Lord  scattered 
them  abroad  from  thence  upon  the  face  of 
all  the  earth  :  and  they  left  off  to  build  the 
city.  Therefore  is  the  name  of  it  called 
Babel ;  because  the  Lord  did  there  confound 
the  language  of  all  the  earth  :  and  from 
thence  did  the  Lord  scatter  them  abroad 
upon  the  face  of  all  the  earth. — Gen.  xi. 
5-9- 

Call  of  Abram.  Now  the  Lord  had  said 
unto  Abram,  Get  thee  out  of  thy  country, 
and  from  thy  kindred,  and  from  thy  father's 
house,  unto  a  land  that  I  will  shew  thee  : 
and  I  will  make  of  thee  a  great  nation,  and 
I  will  bless  thee,  and  make  thy  name  great ; 
and  thou  shalt  be  a  blessing  :  and  I  will  bless 
them  that  bless  thee,  and  curse  him  that 
curseth  thee  :  and  in  thee  shall  all  families 
of  the  earth  be  blessed. — Gen.  xii.  1-3. 

Vision  of  Abram.     After  these  things  the 


12  BIBLE  GEMS. 

word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  Abrain  in  a  vision, 
saying,  Fear  not,  Abrara  :  I  am  thy  shield, 
and  thy  exceeding  great  reward.  .  .  .  And 
he  brought  him  forth  abroad,  and  said,  Look 
now  toward  heaven,  and  tell  the  stars,  if 
thou  be  able  to  number  them  :  and  he  said 
unto  him,  So  shall  thy  seed  be.  And  he  be- 
lieved in  the  Lord  ;  and  he  counted  it  to  him 
for  righteousness. — Gen.  xv.  t,  5,  6. 

Destruction  of  Sodom.  And  the  Lord  ap- 
peared unto  him  in  the  plains  of  Mamre  : 
and  he  sat  in  the  tent  door  in  the  heat  of  the 
day  ;  and  he  lifted  up  his  eyes  and  looked, 
and,  lo,  three  men  stood  by  him  :  and  when 
he  saw  them,  he  ran  to  meet  them  from  the 
tent  door,  and  bowed  himself  toward  the 
ground.  .  .  .  And  the  Lord  said,  Shall  I  hide 
from  Abraham  that  thing  which  I  do  ;  seeing 
that  Abraham  shall  surely  become  a  great  and 
mighty  nation,  and  all  the  nations  of  the 
earth  shall  be  blessed  in  him  ?  For  I  know 
him,  that  he  will  command  his  children  and 
his  household  after  him,  and  they  shall  keep 
the  way  of  the  Lord,  to  do  justice  and  judg- 
ment ;  that  the  Lord  may  bring  upon  Abra- 
ham that  which  he  hath  spoken  of  him.  And 
the  Lord  said,  Because  the  cry  of  Sodom  and 
Gomorrah  is  great,  and  because  their  sin  is 
very  grievous,  I  will  go  down  now,  and  see 
whether  they  have  done  altogether  accord- 
ing to  the  cry  of  it,  which  is  come  unto  me  ; 
and  if  not,  I  will  know.  And  the  men  turned 


BIBLE  GEMS.  13 

their  faces  from  thence,  and  went  toward 
Sodom  :  but  Abraham  stood  yet  before  the 
Lord.  And  Abraham  drew  near,  and  said, 
Wilt  thou  also  destroy  the  righteous  with  the 
wicked  ?  Peradventure  there  be  fifty  right- 
eous within  the  city  :  wilt  thou  also  destroy 
and  not  spare  the  place  for  the  fifty  righteous 
that  are  therein  ?  That  be  far  from  thee  to 
do  after  this  manner,  to  slay  the  righteous 
with  the  wicked  ;  and  that  the  righteous 
should  be  as  the  wicked,  that  be  far  from 
thee  :  Shall  not  the  Judge  of  all  the  earth 
do  right?  And  the  Lord  said,  If  I  find 
in  Sodom  fifty  righteous  within  the  city, 
then  I  will  spare  all  the  place  for  their  sakes. 
And  Abraham  answered  and  said,  Behold 
now,  I  have  taken  upon  me  to  speak  unto 
the  Lord,  which  am  but  dust  and  ashes  : 
Peradventure  there  shall  lack  five  of  the  fifty 
righteous  :  wilt  thou  destroy  all  the  city  for 
lack  of  five  ?  And  he  said,  If  I  find  there 
forty  and  five,  I  will  not  destroy  it.  And  he 
spake  unto  him  yet  again,  and  said,  Perad- 
venture there  shall  be  forty  found  there.  And 
he  said,  I  will  not  do  it  for  forty's  sake. 
And  he  said  unto  him,  Oh  let  not  the  Lord 
be  angry,  and  I  will  speak  :  Peradventure 
there  shall  thirty  be  found  there.  And  he 
said,  I  will  not  do  it,  if  I  find  thirty  there. 
And  he  said,  Behold  now,  I  have  taken  upon 
me  to  speak  unto  the  Lord  :  Peradventure 
there  shall  be  twenty  found  there.  And  he 
said,  I  will  not  destroy  it  for  twenty's  sake. 


14  BIBLE  GEMS. 

And  he  said,  Oh  let  not  the  Lord  be  angry,  and 
I  will  speak  yet  but  this  once  :  Peradventure 
ten  shall  be  found  there.  And  he  said,  I 
will  not  destroy  it  for  ten's  sake.  And  the 
Lord  went  his  way,  as  soon  as  he  had  left 
communing  with  Abraham  :  and  Abraham 
returned  unto  his  place. — Gen.  xviii.  I,  2, 
17-33. 

Test  of  Abraham's  Faith.  And  it  came  to 
pass  after  these  things,  that  God  did  tempt 
Abraham,  and  said  unto  him,  Abraham  :  and 
he  said,  Behold,  here  I  am.  And  he  said, 
Take  now  thy  son,  thine  only  son  Isaac, 
whom  thou  lovest,  and  get  thee  into  the  land 
of  Moriah  ;  and  offer  him  there  for  a  burnt 
offering  upon  one  of  the  mountains  which  I 
will  tell  thee  of.  .  .  .  And  the  Angel  of  the 
Lord  called  unto  him  out  of  heaven,  and  said, 
Abraham,  Abraham  :  and  he  said,  Here  am 
I.  And  he  said,  Lay  not  thine  hand  upon 
the  lad,  neither  do  thou  any  thing  unto  him  : 
for  now  I  know  that  thou  fearest  God,  seeing 
thou  hast  not  withheld  thy  son,  thine  only 
son,  from  me.  .  .  .  And  the  Angel  of  the  Lord 
called  unto  Abraham  out  of  heaven  the  sec- 
ond time,  and  said,  By  myself  have  I  sworn, 
saith  the  Lord,  for  because  thou  hast  done 
this  thing,  and  hast  not  withheld  thy  son, 
thine  only  son,  that  in  blessing  I  will  bless 
thee,  and  in  multiplying  I  will  multiply  thy 
seed  as  the  stars  of  the  heaven,  and  as  the 
sand  which  is  upon  the  sea  shore  ;  and  thy 


BIBLE  GEMS.  15 

seed  shall  possess  the  gate  of  his  enemies  ; 
and  in  thy  seed  shall  all  the  nations  of  the 
earth  be  blessed  ;  because  thou  hast  obeyed 
my  voice.— Gen.  xxii.  i,  2,  11,  12,  15-18. 

Jacob's  Dream.  And  Jacob  went  out  from 
Beer-sheba,  and  went  toward  Haran.  And 
he  lighted  upon  a  certain  place,  and  tarried 
there  all  night,  because  the  sun  was  set  ;  and 
he  took  of  the  stones  of  that  place,  and  put 
them  for  his  pillows,  and  lay  down  in  that 
place  to  sleep.  And  he  dreamed,  and  behold 
a  ladder  set  up  on  the  earth,  and  the  top  of  it 
reached  to  heaven  :  and  behold  the  angels  of 
God  ascending  and  descending  on  it.  And, 
behold,  the  Lord  stood  above  it,  and  said,  I 
am  the  Lord  God  of  Abraham  thy  father,  and 
the  God  of  Isaac  :  the  laud  whereon  thou 
liest,  to  thee  will  I  give  it,  and  to  thy  seed  ; 
and  thy  seed  shall  be  as  the  dust  of  the 
earth  ;  and  thou  shalt  spread  abroad  to  the 
west,  and  to  the  east,  and  to  the  north,  and 
to  the  south  :  and  in  thee  and  in  thy  seed 
shall  all  the  families  of  the  earth  be  blessed. 
And,  behold,  I  am  with  thee,  and  will  keep 
thee  in  all  places  whither  thou  goest,  and 
will  bring  thee  again  into  this  land  ;  for  I  will 
not  leave  thee,  until  I  have  done  that  which 
I  have  spoken  to  thee  of.  And  Jacob  awaked 
out  of  his  sleep,  and  he  said,  Surely  the  Lord 
is  in  this  place  ;  and  I  knew  it  not.  And  he 
was  afraid,  and  said,  How  dreadful  is  this 
place  !    this  is  none  other  but  the  house  of 


16  BIBLE  GEMS. 

God,  and  this  is  the  gate  of  heaven. — Gen. 
xxviii.  10-17. 

Jacob's  Wrestling.  And  Jacob  went  on 
his  way,  and  the  angels  of  God  met  him. 
And  when  Jacob  saw  them,  he  said,  This  is 
God's  host :  and  he  called  the  name  of  that 
place  Mahanaim.  .  .  .  And  Jacob  was  left 
alone  ;  and  there  wrestled  a  man  with  him  un- 
til the  breaking  of  the  day.  And  when  he  saw 
that  he  prevailed  not  against  him,  he  touched 
the  hollow  of  his  thigh  ;  and  the  hollow  of 
Jacob's  thigh  was  out  of  joint,  as  he  wrestled 
with  him.  And  he  said,  Let  me  go,  for  the 
day  breaketh.  And  he  said,  I  will  not  let 
thee  go,  except  thou  bless  me.  And  he  said 
unto  him,  What  is  thy  name  ?  And  he  said, 
Jacob.  And  he  said,  Thy  name  shall  be 
called  no  more  Jacob,  but  Israel  :  for  as  a 
prince  has  thou  power  with  God  and  with 
men,  and  hast  prevailed.  And  Jacob  asked 
him,  and  said,  Tell  me,  I  pray  thee,  thy 
name.  And  he  said,  Wherefore  is  it  that 
thou  dost  ask  after  my  name?  And  he 
blessed  him  there.  And  Jacob  called  the 
name  of  the  place  Peniel :  for  I  have  seen 
God  face  to  face,  and  my  life  is  preserved. — 
Gen.  xxxii.  i,  2,  24-30. 

The  Burning  Bush.  Now  Moses  kept  the 
flock  of  Jethro  his  father  in  law,  the  priest  of 
Midian  :  and  he  led  the  flock  to  the  back 
side  of  the  desert,  and  came  to  the  mountain 


BIBLE  GEMS.  17 

of  God,  even  to  Horeb.  And  the  Angel  of 
the  Lord  appeared  unto  him  in  a  flame  of 
fire  out  of  the  midst  of  a  bush  :  and  he 
looked,  and,  behold,  the  bush  burned  with 
fire,  and  the  bush  was  not  consumed.  And 
Moses  said,  I  will  now  turn  aside,  and  see 
this  great  sight,  why  the  bush  is  not  burnt. 
And  when  the  Lord  saw  that  he  turned 
aside  to  see,  God  called  unto  him  out  of  the 
midst  of  the  bush,  and  said,  Moses,  Moses. 
And  he  said,  Here  am  I.  And  he  said,  Draw 
not  nigh  hither  :  put  off  thy  shoes  from  off 
thy  feet ;  for  the  place  whereon  thou  stand- 
est  is  holy  ground.  Moreover  he  said,  I  am 
the  God  of  thy  father,  the  God  of  Abraham, 
the  God  of  Isaac,  and  the  God  of  Jacob. 
And  Moses  hid  his  face  ;  for  he  was  afraid  to 
look  upon  God.  And  the  Lord  said,  I  have 
surely  seen  the  affliction  of  my  people  which 
are  in  Egypt,  and  have  heard  their  cry  by 
reason  of  their  taskmasters  ;  for  I  know  their 
sorrows ;  and  I  am  come  down  to  deliver 
them  out  of  the  hand  of  the  Egyptians,  and 
to  bring  them  up  out  of  that  land  unto  a 
good  land  and  a  large,  unto  a  land  flowing 
with  milk  and  honey  ;  unto  the  place  of  the 
Canaanites,  and  the  Hittites,  and  the  Amor- 
ites,  and  the  Perizzites,  and  the  Hivites,  and 
the  Jebusites.  Now  therefore,  behold,  the 
cry  of  the  children  of  Israel  is  come  unto 
me  :  and  I  have  also  seen  the  oppression 
wherewith  the  Egyptians  oppress  them. 
Come  now  therefore,  and  I  will  send  thee 


18  BIBLE  GEMS. 

unto  Pharaoh,  that  thou  mayest  bring  forth 
my  people  the  children  of  Israel  out  of 
Egypt.  And  Moses  said  unto  God,  Who  am 
I,  that  I  should  go  unto  Pharaoh,  and  that 
I  should  bring  forth  the  children  of  Israel  out 
of  Egypt  ?  And  he  said,  Certainly  I  will  be 
with  thee  ;  and  this  shall  be  a  token  unto 
thee,  that  I  have  sent  thee  :  When  thou  hast 
brought  forth  the  people  out  of  Egypt,  ye 
shall  serve  God  upon  this  mountain.  And 
Moses  said  unto  God,  Behold,  when  I  come 
unto  the  children  of  Israel,  and  shall  say  unto 
them,  The  God  of  your  fathers  hath  sent  me 
unto  you  ;  and  they  shall  say  to  me,  What  is 
his  name  ?  what  shall  I  say  unto  them  ?  And 
God  said  unto  Moses,  I  AM  THAT  I  AM  : 
and  he  said,  Thus  shalt  thou  say  unto  the 
children  of  Israel,  I  AM  hath  sent  me  unto 
you.  And  God  said  moreover  unto  Moses, 
Thus  shalt  thou  say  unto  the  children  of 
Israel,  The  Lord  God  of  your  fathers,  the 
God  of  Abraham,  the  God  of  Isaac,  and  the 
God  of  Jacob,  hath  sent  me  unto  you  :  this  is 
my  name  for  ever,  and  this  is  my  memorial 
unto  all  generations. — Ex.  iii.  1-15. 

The  Ten  Plagues.  (See  Exodus,  chapters 
vii.  to  xii. ) 

The  Passage  of  the  Red  Sea.  And  Moses 
said  unto  the  people,  Fear  ye  not,  stand  still, 
and  see  the  salvation  of  the  Lord,  which  he 
will  shew  to  you  to  day  :  for  the  Egyptians 


BIBLE  GEMS.  19 

whom  ye  have  seen  to  day,  ye  shall  see  them 
again  no  more  for  ever.  .  .  .  And  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel  went  into  the  midst  of  the  sea 
upon  the  dry  ground  :  and  the  waters  were 
a  wall  unto  them  on  their  right  hand,  and  on 
their  left.— Ex.  xiv.  13,  22. 

Appearance  on  Mt.  Sinai.  And  the  Lord 
said  unto  Moses,  Hew  thee  two  tables  of 
stone  like  unto  the  first :  and  I  will  write 
upon  these  tables  the  words  that  were  in 
the  first  tables,  which  thou  brakest.  And 
be  ready  in  the  morning,  and  come  up  in 
the  morning  unto  mount  Sinai,  and  pre- 
sent thyself  there  to  me  in  the  top  of  the 
mount.  And  no  man  shall  come  up  with 
thee,  neither  let  any  man  be  seen  throughout 
all  the  mount ;  neither  let  the  flocks  nor 
herds  feed  before  that  mount.  And  he 
hewed  two  tables  of  stone  like  unto  the  first ; 
and  Moses  rose  up  early  in  the  morning,  and 
went  up  unto  mount  Sinai,  as  the  Lord  had 
commanded  him,  and  took  in  his  hand  the 
two  tables  of  stone.  And  the  Lord  descended 
in  the  cloud,  and  stood  with  him  there,  and 
proclaimed  the  name  of  the  Lord.  And  the 
Lord  passed  by  before  him,  and  proclaimed, 
The  Lord,  The  Lord  God,  merciful  and  grac- 
ious, longsuffering,  and  abundant  in  goodness 
and  truth,  keeping  mercy  for  thousands,  for- 
giving iniquity  and  transgression  and  sin,  and 
that  will  by  no  means  clear  the  guilty;  visiting 
the  iniquity  of  the  fathers  upon  the  children, 


L'O  BIBLE  GEMS. 

and  upon  the  children's  children,  unto  the 
third  and  to  the  fourth  generation.  And 
Moses  made  haste,  and  bowed  his  head 
toward    the  earth,    and    worshipped. — Ex. 


The  Still  Small  Voice.  And  he  said,  Go 
forth,  and  stand  upon  the  mount  before  the 
Lord.  And,  behold,  the  Lord  passed  by, 
and  a  great  and  strong  wind  rent  the  mount- 
ains, and  brake  in  pieces  the  rocks  before  the 
Lord ;  but  the  Lord  was  not  in  the  wind  : 
and  after  the  wind  an  earthquake  ;  but  the 
Lord  was  not  in  the  earthquake  :  and  after 
the  earthquake  a  fire  ;  but  the  Lord  was  not 
in  the  fire  :  and  after  the  fire  a  still  small 
voice.  And  it  was  so,  when  Elijah  heard  it, 
that  he  wrapped  his  face  in  his  mantle,  and 
went  out,  and  stood  in  the  entering  in  of  the 
cave.  And,  behold,  there  came  a  voice  unto 
him,  and  said,  What  doest  thou  here,  Elijah  ? 
— i  Kings  xix.  11-13. 

God's  World.  The  earth  is  the  Lord's, 
and  the  fulness  thereof  ;  the  world,  and  they 
that  dwell  therein.  For  he  hath  founded  it 
upon  the  seas,  and  established  it  upon  the 
floods.  Who  shall  ascend  into  the  hill  of 
the  Lord  ?  or  who  shall  stand  in  his  holy 
place?  He  that  hath  clean  hands,  and  a 
pure  heart ;  who  hath  not  lifted  up  his  soul 
unto  vanity,  nor  sworn  deceitfully.  He  shall 
receive  the  blessing  from  the  Lord,  and  right- 


BIBLE  GEMS.  21 

eousness  from  the  God  of  his  salvation.  This 
is  the  generation  of  them  that  seek  him,  that 
seek  thy  face,  O  Jacob.  Lift  up  your  heads, 
O  ye  gates  ;  and  be  ye  lifted  up,  ye  everlast- 
ing doors  ;  and  the  King  of  glory  shall  come 
in.  Who  is  this  King  of  glory  ?  The  Lord 
strong  and  mighty,  the  Lord  mighty  in  bat- 
tle. Lift  up  your  heads,  O  ye  gates  ;  even 
lift  them  up,  ye  everlasting  doors ;  and  the 
King  of  glory  shall  come  in.  Who  is  this 
King  of  glory  ?  The  Lord  of  hosts,  he  is  the 
King  of  glory. — Psai,m  xxiv.  i-io. 

God's  Might.  The  Lord  reigneth,  he  is 
clothed  with  majesty ;  the  Lord  is  clothed 
with  strength,  wherewith  he  hath  girded 
himself  :  the  world  also  is  stablished,  that  it 
cannot  be  moved.  Thy  throne  is  established 
of  old :  thou  art  from  everlasting.  The 
floods  have  lifted  up,  O  Lord,  the  floods  have 
lifted  up  their  voice  ;  the  floods  lift  up  their 
waves.  The  Lord  on  high  is  mightier  than 
the  noise  of  many  waters,  yea,  than  the 
mighty  waves  of  the  sea.  Thy  testimonies 
are  very  sure :  holiness  becometh  thine 
house,  O  Lord,  for  ever. — Psai,m  xciii.  1-5. 

God's  Omnipresence.  O  Lord,  thou  hast 
searched  me,  and  known  me.  Thou  knowest 
mydownsittingand  mine  uprising  ;  thouun- 
derstandest  my  thought  afar  off.  Thou  com- 
passest  my  path  and  my  lying  down,  and  art 
acquainted  with  all  my  ways.     For  there  is 


22  BIBLE  GEMS. 

not  a  word  in  my  tongue,  but,  lo,  O  Lord 
thou  knowest  it  altogether.     Thou  hast  beset 
me  behind  and  before,  and   laid  thine  hand 
upon  me.     Such  knowledge  is  too  wonderful 
for  me  ;   it  is  high,  I  cannot  attain  unto  it. 
Whither  shall    I    go  from    thy  Spirit?    or 
whither  shall  I  flee  from  thy  presence  ?    If  I 
ascend  up  into  heaven,  thou  art  there  :  if  I 
make  my  bed  in  hell,  behold,  thou  art  there. 
If  I  take  the  wings  of  the  morning,  and  dwell 
in  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  sea  ;  even  there 
shall  thy  hand  lead  me,  and  thy  right  hand 
shall  hold  me.    If  I  say,  Surely  the  darkness 
shall  cover  me  ;  even  the  night  shall  be  light 
about   me.      Yea,  the  darkness  hideth   not 
from  thee  ;  but  the  night  shineth  as  the  day  : 
the  darkness  and  the  light  are  both  alike  to 
thee.      For  thou  hast  possessed   my  reins  : 
thou  hast  covered  me  in  my  mother's  womb. 
I  will  praise  thee  ;    for  I  am  fearfully  and 
wonderfully     made:     marvellous    are     thy 
works  ;  and  that  my  soul  knoweth  right  well. 
— Psai,m  cxxxix.  1-14. 

God's  Omnipotence.  Who  hath  measured 
the  waters  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand,  and 
meted  out  heaven  with  the  span,  and  com- 
prehended the  dust  of  the  earth  in  a  measure, 
and  weighed  the  mountains  in  scales,  and 
the  hills  in  a  balance  ?  Who  hath  directed 
the  Spirit  of  the  Lord,  or  being  his  counsel- 
lor hath  taught  him  ?    With  whom  took  he 


BIBLE  GEMS.  23 

counsel,  and  who  instructed  him,  and  taught 
him  in  the  path  of  judgment,  and  taught 
him  knowledge,  and  shewed  to  him  the  way 
of  understanding?  Behold,  the  nations  are 
as  a  drop  of  a  bucket,  and  are  counted  as  the 
small  dust  of  the  balance  :  behold,  he  taketh 
up  the  isles  as  a  very  little  thing.  And  Leb- 
anon is  not  sufficient  to  burn,  nor  the  beasts 
thereof  sufficient  for  a  burnt  offering.  All 
nations  before  him  are  as  nothing  ;  and  they 
are  counted  to  him  less  than  nothing,  and 
vanity.  To  whom  then  will  ye  liken  God  ? 
or  what  likeness  will  ye  compare  unto  him  ? 
The  workman  melteth  a  graven  image,  and 
the  goldsmith  spreadeth  it  over  with  gold, 
and  casteth  silver  chains.  He  that  is  so  im- 
poverished that  he  hath  no  oblation  chooseth 
a  tree  that  will  not  rot ;  he  seeketh  unto  him 
a  cunning  workman  to  prepare  a  graven 
image,  that  shall  not  be  moved.  Have  ye 
not  known  ?  have  ye  not  heard  ?  hath  it  not 
been  told  you  from  the  beginning  ?  have  ye 
not  understood  from  the  foundations  of  the 
earth  ?  It  is  he  that  sitteth  upon  the  circle 
of  the  earth,  and  the  inhabitants  thereof  are 
as  grasshoppers ;  that  stretcheth  out  the 
heavens  as  a  curtain,  and  spreadeth  them  out 
as  a  tent  to  dwell  in  :  that  bringeth  the 
princes  to  nothing  ;  he  maketh  the  judges  of 
the  earth  as  vanity.  Yea,  they  shall  not  be 
planted  ;  yea,  they  shall  not  be  sown  ;  yea, 
their  stock  shall  not  take  root  in  the  earth  : 
and  he  shall  also  blow  upon  them,  and  they 


24  BIBLE  GEMS. 

shall  wither,  and  the  whirlwind  shall  take 
them  away  as  stubble.  To  whom  then  will 
ye  liken  me,  or  shall  I  be  equal  ?  saith  the 
Holy  One.  Lift  up  your  eyes  on  high,  and 
behold  who  hath  created  these  things,  that 
bringeth  out  their  host  by  number  :  he  call- 
eth  them  all  by  names  by  the  greatness  of 
his  might,  for  that  he  is  strong  in  power  ; 
not  one  faileth.  Why  sayest  thou,  O  Jacob, 
and  speakest,  O  Israel,  My  way  is  hid  from 
the  Lord,  and  my  judgment  is  passed  over 
from  my  God  ?  Hast  thou  not  known  ?  hast 
thou  not  heard,  that  the  everlasting  God,  the 
Lord,  the  Creator  of  the  ends  of  the  earth, 
fainteth  not,  neither  is  weary  ?  there  is  no 
searching  of  his  understanding.  He  giveth 
power  to  the  faint ;  and  to  them  that  have  no 
might  he  increaseth  strength.  Even  the 
youths  shall  faint  and  be  weary,  and  the 
young  men  shall  utterly  fall  :  but  they  that 
wait  upon  the  Lord  shall  renew  their 
strength  ;  they  shall  mount  up  with  wings 
as  eagles  ;  they  shall  run,  and  not  be  weary; 
and  they  shall  walk,  and  not  faint. — ISA.  xl. 
12-31. 

Spiritual  Regeneration.  The  hand  of  the 
Lord  was  upon  me,  and  carried  me  out  in 
the  Spirit  of  the  Lord,  and  set  me  down  in 
the  midst  of  the  valley  which  was  full  of 
bones,  and  caused  me  to  pass  by  them  round 
about :  and,  behold,  there  were  very  many  in 
the   open   valley ;    and,  lo,  they   were   very 


BIBLE  GEMS.  25 

dry.  And  he  said  unto  me,  Son  of  man,  can 
these  bones  live  ?  And  I  answered,  0  Lord 
God,  thou  knowest.  Again  he  said  unto 
me,  Prophesy  upon  these  bones,  and  say 
unto  them,  O  ye  dry  bones,  hear  the  word  of 
the  Lord.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  unto 
these  bones  ;  Behold,  I  will  cause  breath  to 
enter  into  you,  and  ye  shall  live  :  and  I  will 
lay  sinews  upon  you,  and  will  bring  up  flesh 
upon  you,  and  cover  you  with  skin,  and  put 
breath  in  you,  and  ye  shall  live  ;  and  ye 
shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord.  So  I  prophe- 
sied as  I  was  commanded  :  and  as  I  prophe- 
sied, there  was  a  noise,  and  behold  a  shak- 
ing, and  the  bones  came  together,  bone  to  his 
bone.  And  when  I  beheld,  lo,  the  sinews 
and  the  flesh  came  up  upon  them,  and  the 
skin  covered  them  above  :  but  there  was  no 
breath  in  them.  Then  said  he  unto  me, 
Prophesy  unto  the  wind,  prophesy,  son  of 
man,  and  say  to  the  wind,  Thus  saith  the 
Lord  God  ;  Come  from  the  four  winds,  O 
breath,  and  breathe  upon  these  slain,  that 
they  may  live.  So  I  prophesied  as  he  com- 
manded me,  and  the  breath  came  into  them, 
and  they  lived,  and  stood  up  upon  their  feet, 
an  exceeding  great  army. — KzEK.  xxxvii. 
i-io. 

Christ's  Power  over  Storm  and  Spirits, 
Disease  and  Death.  And  when  he  was  en- 
tered into  a  ship,  his  disciples  followed  him. 
And,  behold,  there  arose  a  great  tempest  in 


26  BIBLE  GEMS. 

the  sea,  insomuch  that  the  ship  was  covered 
with  the  waves  :  but  he  was  asleep.  And  his 
disciples  came  to  him,  and  awoke  him,  say- 
ing, Lord,  save  us  :  we  perish.  And  he  saith 
unto  them,  Why  are  ye  fearful,  O  ye  of  lit- 
tle faith  ?  Then  he  arose,  and  rebuked  the 
winds  and  the  sea  ;  and  there  was  a  great 
calm.  But  the  men  marvelled,  saying,  What 
manner  of  man  is  this,  that  even  the  winds  and 
the  sea  obey  him  !  And  when  he  was  come  to 
the  other  side  into  the  country  of  the  Gerge- 
seues,  there  met  him  two  possessed  with 
devils,  coming  out  of  the  tombs,  exceeding 
fierce,  so  that  no  man  might  pass  by  that 
way.  And,  behold,  they  cried  out,  saying, 
What  have  we  to  do  with  thee,  Jesus,  thou 
Son  of  God?  art  thou  come  hither  to  tor- 
ment us  before  the  time  ?  And  there  was  a 
good  way  off  from  them  a  herd  of  many 
swine  feeding.  So  the  devils  besought  him, 
saying,  If  thou  cast  us  out,  suffer  us  to  go 
away  into  the  herd  of  swine.  And  he  said 
unto  them,  Go.  And  when  they  were  come 
out,  they  went  into  the  herd  of  swine :  and, 
behold,  the  whole  herd  of  swine  ran  violently 
down  a  steep  place  into  the  sea,  and  per- 
ished in  the  waters. 

And,  behold,  they  brought  to  him  a  man 
sick  of  the  palsy,  lying  on  a  bed  :  and  Jesus 
seeing  their  faith  said  unto  the  sick  of  the 
palsy  ;  Son,  be  of  good  cheer  ;  thy  sins  be 
forgiven  thee.  And,  behold,  certain  of  the 
scibes    said   within    themselves,   This    man 


BIBLE  GEMS.  27 

blasphemeth.  And  Jesus  knowing  their 
thoughts  said,  Wherefore  think  ye  evil  in 
your  hearts?  For  whether  is  easier,  to 
say,  Thy  sins  be  forgiven  thee  ;  or  to  say, 
Arise,  and  walk  ?  But  that  ye  may  know 
that  the  Son  of  man  hath  power  on  earth  to 
forgive  sins,  (then  saith  he  to  the  sick  of 
the  palsy,)  Arise,  take  up  thy  bed,  and  go 
unto  thine  house.  And  he  arose,  and  de- 
parted to  his  house.  But  when  the  mul- 
titudes saw  it,  they  marvelled,  and  glori- 
fied God,  which  had  given  such  power 
unto  men.  .  .  .  And  when  Jesus  came  into 
the  ruler's  house,  and  saw  the  minstrels  and 
the  people  making  a  noise,  he  said  unto  them, 
Give  place  :  for  the  maid  is  not  dead,  but 
sleepeth.  And  they  laughed  him  to  scorn. 
But  when  the  people  wrere  put  forth,  he  went 
in,  and  took  her  by  the  hand,  and  the  maid 
arose.  And  the  fame  hereof  went  abroad 
into  all  that  land. — Matt.  viii.  23-32  ;  ix. 
2-8,  23-26. 


God's  Spirit.  And  when  the  day  of  Pente- 
cost was  fully  come,  they  were  all  with  one 
accord  in  one  place.  And  suddenly  there 
came  a  sound  from  heaven  as  of  a  rushing 
mighty  wind,  and  it  filled  all  the  house 
where  they  were  sitting.  And  there  appeared 
unto  them  cloven  tongues  like  as  of  fire,  and 
it  sat  upon  each  of  them.  And  they  were  all 
filled   with   the   Holy  Ghost,  and  began  to 


28  BIBLE  GEMS. 

speak  with  other  tongues,  as  the  Spirit  gave 
them  utterance. — Acts  ii.  1-4. 

Christ  Enthroned.  And  I  beheld,  and,  lo, 
in  the  midst  of  the  throne  and  of  the  four 
beasts,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  elders,  stood 
a  Lamb  as  it  had  been  slain,  having  seven 
horns  and  seven  eyes,  which  are  the  seven 
Spirits  of  God  sent  forth  into  all  the  earth. 
And  he  came  and  took  the  book  out  of  the 
right  hand  of  him  that  sat  upon  the  throne. 
And  when  he  had  taken  the  book,  the  four 
beasts  and  four  and  twenty  elders  fell  down 
before  the  Lamb,  having  every  one  of  them 
harps,  and  golden  vials  full  of  odours,  which 
are  the  prayers  of  saints.  And  they  sung  a 
new  song,  saying,  Thou  art  worthy  to  take 
the  book,  and  to  open  the  seals  thereof  :  for 
thou  wast  slain,  and  hast  redeemed  us  to 
God  by  thy  blood  out  of  every  kindred,  and 
tongue,  and  people,  and  nation  ;  and  hast 
made  us  unto  our  God  kings  and  priests  : 
and  we  shall  reign  on  the  earth.  And  I  be- 
held, and  I  heard  the  voice  of  many  angels 
round  about  the  throne,  and  the  beasts,  and 
the  elders  :  and  the  number  of  them  was  ten 
thousand  times  ten  thousand,  and  thousands 
of  thousands  ;  saying  with  a  loud  voice, 
Worthy  is  the  Lamb  that  was  slain  to  re- 
ceive power,  and  riches,  and  wisdom,  and 
strength,  and  honour,  and  glory,  and  bless- 
ing. And  every  creature  which  is  in  heaven, 
and  on  the  earth,  and  under  the  earth,  and 


BIBLE  GEMS.  29 

such  as  are  in  the  sea,  and  all  that  are  in 
them,  heard  I  saying,  Blessing,  and  honour, 
and  glory,  and  power,  be  unto  him  that  sit- 
teth  upon  the  throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb 
for  ever  and  ever. — REV.  v,  6-13. 


CHAPTER  II. 

AI/TARS  TO  JEHOVAH. 

Noah's  Altar.  And  Noah  builded  an  altar 
nnto  the  Lord  ;  and  took  of  every  clean 
beast,  and  of  every  clean  fowl,  and  offered 
burnt  offerings  on  the  altar.  And  the  Lord 
smelled  a  sweet  savour ;  and  the  Lord  said 
in  his  heart,  I  will  not  again  curse  the 
ground  any  more  for  man's  sake  ;  for  the 
imagination  of  man's  heart  is  evil  from  his 
youth  :  neither  will  I  again  smite  any  more 
every  thing  living,  as  I  have  done.  While 
the  earth  remaineth,  seedtime  and  harvest, 
and  cold  and  heat,  and  summer  and  winter, 
and  day  and  night  shall  not  cease. — Gen. 
viii.  20-22. 

Abraham's  Pilgrim  Altars.  And  Abram 
passed  through  the  land  unto  the  place 
of  Sichem,  unto  the  plain  of  Moreh.  And 
the  Canaanite  was  then  in  the  land.  And 
the  Lord  appeared  unto  Abram,  and  said, 
Unto  thy  seed  will  I  give  this  land  :  and 
there  builded  he  an  altar  unto  the  Lord,  who 
appeared  unto  him.  And  he  removed  from 
thence  unto  a  mountain  on  the  east  of  Beth- 
el, and  pitched  his  tent,  having  Beth-el  on 
the  west,  and  Hai  on  the  east :  and  there  he 
builded  an  altar  unto  the  Lord,  and  called 
upon  the  name  of  the  Lord.  And  Abram 
(30) 


BIBLE  GEMS.  3l 

journeyed,  going  on  still  toward  the  south. 
— Gen.  xii.  6-9. 

Jehovah-Jireh.  And  Abraham  stretched 
forth  his  hand,  and  took  the  knife  to  slay 
his  son.  And  the  Angel  of  the  Lord  called 
unto  him  out  of  heaven,  and  said,  Abraham, 
Abraham  :  and  he  said,  Here  am  I.  And  he 
said,  Lay  not  thine  hand  upon  the  lad,  nei- 
ther do  thou  any  thing  unto  him  :  for  now  I 
know  that  thou  fearest  God,  seeing  thou 
hast  not  withheld  thy  son,  thine  only  son, 
from  me.  And  Abraham  lifted  up  his  eyes, 
and  looked,  and  behold  behind  him  a  ram 
caught  in  a  thicket  by  his  horns  :  and  Abra- 
ham went  and  took  the  ram,  and  offered  him 
up  for  a  burnt  offering  in  the  stead  of  his 
son.  And  Abraham  called  the  name  of  that 
place  Jehovah-jireh  :  as  it  is  said  to  this  day, 
In  the  mount  of  the  Lord  it  shall  be  seen. — 
Gen.  xxii.  10-14. 

Bethel.  And  Jacob  awaked  out  of  his 
sleep,  and  he  said,  Surely  the  Lord  is  in  this 
place ;  and  I  knew  it  not.  And  he  was 
afraid,  and  said,  How  dreadful  is  this  place  ! 
this  is  none  other  but  the  house  of  God,  and 
this  is  the  gate  of  heaven.  And  Jacob  rose 
up  early  in  the  morning,  and  took  the  stone 
that  he  had  put  for  his  pillows,  and  set  it  up 
for  a  pillar,  and  poured  oil  upon  the  top  of 
it.  And  he  called  the  name  of  that  place 
Beth-el  :  but  the  name  of  that  city  was  called 


32  BIBLE  GEMS. 

Luz  at  the  first.  And  Jacob  vowed  a  vow, 
saying,  If  God  will  be  with  me,  and  will 
keep  me  in  this  way  that  I  go,  and  will  give 
me  bread  to  eat,  and  raiment  to  put  on,  so 
that  I  come  again  to  my  father's  house  in 
peace  ;  then  shall  the  Lord  be  my  God  :  and 
this  stone,  which  I  have  set  for  a  pillar,  shall 
be  God's  house  :  and  of  all  that  thou  shalt 
give  me  I  will  surely  give  the  tenth  unto 
thee. — Gbn.  xxviii.  16-22. 

Mizpah.  And  Laban  answered  and  said 
unto  Jacob,  These  daughters  are  my  daugh- 
ters, and  these  children  are  my  children,  and 
these  cattle  are  my  cattle,  and  all  that  thou 
seest  is  mine :  and  what  can  I  do  this  day 
unto  these  my  daughters,  or  unto  their  chil- 
dren which  they  have  borne?  Now  there- 
fore come  thou,  let  us  make  a  covenant,  I 
and  thou  ;  and  let  it  be  for  a  witness  between 
me  and  thee.  And  Jacob  took  a  stone,  and 
set  it  up  for  a  pillar.  And  Jacob  said  unto 
his  brethren,  Gather  stones  ;  and  they  took 
stones,  and  made  a  heap  :  and  they  did  eat 
there  upon  the  heap.  And  Laban  called  it 
Jegar-sahadutha  :  but  Jacob  called  it  Galeed. 
And  Laban  said,  This  heap  is  a  witness  be- 
tween me  and  thee  this  day.  Therefore  was 
the  name  of  it  called  Galeed,  and  Mizpah  ; 
for  he  said,  The  Lord  watch  between  me  and 
thee,  when  we  are  absent  one  from  another. 
If  thou  shalt  afflict  my  daughters,  or  if  thou 
shalt  take  other  wives  beside  my  daughters, 


BIBLE  GEMS.  33 

no  man  is  with  us  ;  see,  God  is  witness  be- 
twixt me  and  thee.  And  Laban  said  to 
Jacob,  Behold  this  heap,  and  behold  this 
pillar,  which  I  have  cast  betwixt  me  and 
thee  ;  this  heap  be  witness,  and  this  pillar 
be  witness,  that  I  will  not  pass  over  this 
heap  to  thee,  and  that  thou  shalt  not  pass 
over  this  heap  and  this  pillar  unto  me,  for 
harm.  The  God  of  Abraham,  and  the  God 
of  Nahor,  the  God  of  their  father,  judge 
betwixt  us.  And  Jacob  sware  by  the  fear 
of  his  father  Isaac.  Then  Jacob  offered  sac- 
rifice upon  the  mount,  and  called  his  breth- 
ren to  eat  bread  :  and  they  did  eat  bread, 
and  tarried  all  night  in  the  mount. — Gen. 
xxxi.  43-54. 

Peniel.  And  Jacob  was  left  alone  ;  and 
there  wrestled  a  man  with  him  until  the 
breaking  of  the  day.  And  when  he  saw  that 
he  prevailed  not  against  him,  he  touched  the 
hollow  of  his  thigh  ;  and  the  hollow  of  Ja- 
cob's thigh  was  out  of  joint,  as  he  wrestled 
with  him.  And  he  said,  Let  me  go,  for  the 
day  breaketh.  And  he  said,  I  will  not  let 
thee  go,  except  thou  bless  me.  And  he  said 
unto  him,  What  is  thy  name  ?  And  he  said, 
Jacob.  And  he  said,  Thy  name  shall  be 
called  no  more  Jacob,  but  Israel  :  for  as  a 
prince  hast  thou  power  with  God  and  with 
men,  and  hast  prevailed.  And  Jacob  asked 
him,  and  said,  Tell  me,  I  pray  thee,  thy 
name.     And  he  said,  Wherefore  is  it  that 


34  BIBLE  GEMS. 

thou  dost  ask  after  my  name?  And  he 
blessed  him  there.  And  Jacob  called  the 
name  of  the  place  Peniel  :  for  I  have  seen 
God  face  to  face,  and  my  life  is  preserved. 
— Gen.  xxxii.  24-30. 

Jehovah-Nissi.  But  Moses'  hands  were 
heavy ;  and  they  took  a  stone,  and  put  it 
under  him,  and  he  sat  thereon  ;  and  Aaron 
and  Hur  stayed  up  his  hands,  the  one  on  the 
one  side,  and  the  other  on  the  other  side  ; 
and  his  hands  were  steady  until  the  going 
down  of  the  sun.  And  Joshua  discomfited 
Amalek  and  his  people  with  the  edge  of  the 
sword.  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Write 
this  for  a  memorial  in  a  book,  and  rehearse 
it  in  the  ears  of  Joshua  :  for  I  will  utterly 
put  out  the  remembrance  of  Amalek  from 
under  heaven.  And  Moses  built  an  altar, 
and  called  the  name  of  it  Jehovah-nissi  :  for 
he  said,  Because  the  Lord  hath  sworn  that 
the  Lord  will  have  war  with  Amalek  from 
generation  to  generation. — Ex.  xvii.  12-16. 

The  Brazen  Altar  (Tabernacle).  And 
thou  shalt  make  an  altar  of  shittim  wood, 
five  cubits  long,  and  five  cubits  broad  ;  the 
altar  shall  be  foursquare  :  and  the  height 
thereof  shall  be  three  cubits.  And  thou 
shalt  make  the  horns  of  it  upon  the  four 
corners  thereof  :  his  horns  shall  be  of  the 
same  :  and  thou  shalt  overlay  it  with  brass. 
And  thou  shalt  make  his  pans  to  receive  his 


BIBLE  GEMS.  35 

ashes,  and  his  shovels,  and  his  basins,  and 
his  flesh-hooks,  and  his  firepans  :  all  the  ves- 
sels thereof  thou  shalt  make  of  brass.  And 
thou  shalt  make  for  it  a  grate  of  network  of 
brass  ;  and  upon  the  net  shalt  thou  make 
four  brazen  rings  in  the  four  corners  thereof. 
And  thou  shalt  put  it  under  the  compass  of 
the  altar  beneath,  that  the  net  may  be  even  to 
the  midst  of  the  altar.  And  thou  shalt  make 
staves  for  the  altar,  staves  of  shittim  wood, 
and  overlay  them  with  brass.  And  the  staves 
shall  be  put  into  the  rings,  and  the  staves 
shall  be  upon  the  two  sides  of  the  altar,  to 
bear  it.  Hollow  with  boards  shalt  thou  make 
it  :  as  it  was  shewed  thee  in  the  mount,  so 
shall  they  make  it. — Ex.  xxvii.  1-8. 

A  Memorial  Stone.  And  it  came  to  pass, 
when  all  the  people  were  clean  passed  over 
Jordan,  that  the  Lord  spake  unto  Joshua, 
saying,  Take  you  twelve  men  out  of  the  peo- 
ple, out  of  every  tribe  a  man,  and  command 
ye  them,  saying,  Take  you  hence  out  of  the 
midst  of  Jordan,  out  of  the  place  where  the 
priests'  feet  stood  firm,  twelve  stones,  and  ye 
shall  carry  them  over  with  you,  and  leave 
them  in  the  lodging  place,  where  ye  shall 
lodge  this  night.  Then  Joshua  called  the 
twelve  men,  whom  he  had  prepared  of  the 
children  of  Israel,  out  of  every  tribe  a  man  : 
and  Joshua  said  unto  them,  Pass  over  before 
the  ark  of  the  Lord  your  God  into  the  midst 
of  Jordan,  and  take  you  up  every  man  of 


36  BIBLE  GEMS. 

you  a  stone  upon  his  shoulder,  according 
unto  the  number  of  the  tribes  of  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel  :  that  this  may  be  a  sign  among 
you,  that  when  your  children  ask  their  fath- 
ers in  time  to  come,  saying,  What  mean  ye 
by  these  stones?  then  ye  shall  answer  them, 
That  the  waters  of  Jordan  were  cut  off  before 
the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  the  Lord  ;  when 
it  passed  over  Jordan,  the  waters  of  Jordan 
were  cut  off  :  and  these  stones  shall  be  for  a 
memorial  unto  the  children  of  Israel  for 
ever.— Josh.  iv.  1-7. 

Ed,  an  Altar  of  Witness.  Therefore  we 
said,  Let  us  now  prepare  to  build  us  an  altar, 
not  for  burnt  offering,  nor  for  sacrifice  :  but 
that  it  may  be  a  witness  between  us,  and 
you,  and  our  generations  after  us,  that  we 
might  do  the  service  of  the  Lord  before  him 
with  our  burnt  offerings,  and  with  our  sacri- 
fices, and  with  our  peace  offerings  ;  that  your 
children  may  not  say  to  our  children  in  time 
to  come,  Ye  have  no  part  in  the  Lord. 
Therefore  said  we,  that  it  shall  be,  when 
they  should  so  say  to  us  or  to  our  generations 
in  time  to  come,  that  we  may  say  again,  Be- 
hold the  pattern  of  the  altar  of  the  Lord, 
which  our  fathers  made,  not  for  burnt  offer- 
ings, nor  for  sacrifices  ;  but  it  is  a  witness 
between  us  and  you.  God  forbid  that  we 
should  rebel  against  the  Lord,  and  turn  this 
day  from  following  the  Lord,  to  build  an 
altar  for  burnt  offerings,  for  meat  offerings, 


BIBLE  GEMS.  37 

or  for  sacrifices,  besides  the  altar  of  the  Lord 
our  God  that  is  before  his  tabernacle.  .  .  . 
And  the  thing  pleased  the  children  of  Israel  ; 
and  the  children  of  Israel  blessed  God,  and  did 
not  intend  to  go  up  against  them  in  battle, 
to  destroy  the  land  wherein  the  children  of 
Reuben  and  Gad  dwelt.  And  the  children 
of  Reuben  and  the  children  of  Gad  called  the 
altar  Ed  :  for  it  shall  be  a  witness  between 
us  that  the  Lord  is  God. — Josh.  xxii.  26-29, 
33,  34- 

Jehovah- Shalom.  And  when  Gideon  per- 
ceived that  he  was  an  angel  of  the  Lord, 
Gideon  said,  Alas,  O  Lord  God  !  for  because 
I  have  seen  an  angel  of  the  Lord  face  to 
face.  And  the  Lord  said  unto  him,  Peace 
be  unto  thee  ;  fear  not  :  thou  shalt  not  die. 
Then  Gideon  built  an  altar  there  unto  the 
Lord,  and  called  it  Jehovah-shalom  :  unto 
this  day  it  is  yet  in  Ophrah  of  the  Abiezrites. 
And  it  came  to  pass  the  same  night,  that  the 
Lord  said  unto  him,  Take  thy  father's  young 
bullock,  even  the  second  bullock  of  seven 
years  old,  and  throw  down  the  altar  of  Baal 
that  thy  father  hath,  and  cut  down  the  grove 
that  is  by  it  :  and  build  an  altar  unto  the 
Lord  thy  God  upon  the  top  of  this  rock,  in 
the  ordered  place,  and  take  the  second  bull- 
ock, and  offer  a  burnt  sacrifice  with  the  wood 
of  the  grove  which  thou  shalt  cut  down. 
Then  Gideon  took  ten  men  of  his  servants, 
and   did   as   the  Lord   had  said  unto  him  : 


38  fclBLE  GEMS. 

and  so  it  was,  because  be  feared  bis  father's 
household,  and  the  men  of  the  city,  that  he 
could  not  do  it  by  day,  that  he  did  it  by 
night. — Judges  vi.  22-29. 

Ebenezer.  And  the  men  of  Israel  went 
out  of  Mizpeh,  and  pursued  the  Philistines, 
and  smote  them,  until  they  came  under  Beth- 
car.  Then  Samuel  took  a  stone,  and  set  it 
between  Mizpeh  and  Shen,  and  called  the 
name  of  it  Eben-ezer,  saying,  Hitherto  hath 
the  Lord  helped  us. — I  Sam.  vii.  11,  12. 

An  Altar  of  Intercession.  So  the  Lord 
sent  a  pestilence  upon  Israel  from  the  morn- 
ing even  to  the  time  appointed  :  and  there 
died  of  the  people  from  Dan  even  to  Beer- 
sheba  seventy  thousand  men.  And  when 
the  angel  stretched  out  his  hand  upon  Jeru- 
salem to  destroy  it,  the  Lord  repented  him 
of  the  evil,  and  said  to  the  angel  that  de- 
stroyed the  people,  It  is  enough  :  stay  now 
thine  hand.  And  the  angel  of  the  Lord  was 
by  the  threshingplace  of  Araunah  the  Jebu- 
site.  And  David  spake  unto  the  Lord  when 
he  saw  the  angel  that  smote  the  people,  and 
said,  Lo,  I  have  sinned,  and  I  have  done 
wickedly  :  but  these  sheep,  what  have  they 
done  ?  let  thine  hand,  I  pray  thee,  be  against 
me,  and  against  my  father's  house.  And 
Gad  came  that  day  to  David,  and  said  unto 
him,  Go  up,  rear  an  altar  unto  the  Lord  in 


BIBLE  GEMS.  39 

the  threshingfloor  of  Araunah  the  Jebusite. 
And  David,  according  to  the  saying  of  Gad, 
went  up  as  the  Lord  commanded.  And 
Araunah  looked,  and  saw  the  king  and  his 
servants  coming  on  toward  him  :  and  Arau- 
nah went  out,  and  bowed  himself  before  the 
king  on  his  face  upon  the  ground.  And 
Araunah  said,  Wherefore  is  my  lord  the 
king  come  to  his  servant  ?  And  David  said, 
To  buy  the  threshingfloor  of  thee,  to  build 
an  altar  unto  the  Lord,  that  the  plague  may 
be  stayed  from  the  people.  And  Araunah 
said  unto  David,  Let  my  lord  the  king  take 
and  offer  up  what  seemeth  good  unto  him  : 
behold,  here  be  oxen  for  burnt  sacrifice,  and 
threshing  instruments  and  other  instruments 
of  the  oxen  for  wood.  All  these  things  did 
Araunah,  as  a  king,  give  unto  the  king.  And 
Araunah  said  unto  the  king,  The  Lord  thy 
God  accept  thee.  And  the  king  said  unto 
Araunah,  Nay  ;  but  I  will  surely  buy  it  of 
thee  at  a  price  :  neither  will  I  offer  burnt 
offerings  unto  the  Lord  my  God  of  that 
which  doth  cost  me  nothing.  So  David 
bought  the  threshingfloor  and  the  oxen  for 
fifty  shekels  of  silver.  And  David  built 
there  an  altar  unto  the  Lord,  and  offered 
burnt  offerings  and  peace  offerings.  So  the 
Lord  was  entreated  for  the  land,  and  the 
plague  was  stayed  from  Israel. — 2  Sam.  xxiv. 
15-25. 

The  Temple  Altar.    (See  2  Chron.  xxiv.) 


40  BIBLE  GEMS. 

The  Altar  of  the  New  Covenant  and  the 
True  Sacrifice.  But  Christ  being  come  a 
high  priest  of  good  things  to  come,  by  a 
greater  and  more  perfect  tabernacle,  not 
made  with  hands,  that  is  to  say,  not  of  this 
building  ;  neither  by  the  blood  of  goats  and 
calves,  but  by  his  own  blood  he  entered  in 
once  into  the  holy  place,  having  obtained 
eternal  redemption  for  us.  For  if  the  blood 
of  bulls  and  of  goats,  and  the  ashes  of  a 
heifer  sprinkling  the  unclean,  sanctifieth  to 
the  purifying  of  the  flesh  ;  how  much  more 
shall  the  blood  of  Christ,  who  through  the 
eternal  Spirit  offered  himself  without  spot  to 
God,  purge  your  conscience  from  dead  works 
to  serve  the  living  God  ?  And  for  this  cause 
he  is  the  mediator  of  the  new  testament,  that 
by  means  of  death,  for  the  redemption  of  the 
transgressions  that  were  under  the  first  testa- 
ment, they  which  are  called  might  receive 
the  promise  of  eternal  inheritance.  For 
where  a  testament  is,  there  must  also  of  ne- 
cessity be  the  death  of  the  testator.  For  a 
testament  is  of  force  after  men  are  dead  : 
otherwise  it  is  of  no  strength  at  all  while  the 
testator  liveth.  Whereupon  neither  the  first 
testament  was  dedicated  without  blood.  For 
when  Moses  had  spoken  every  precept  to  all 
the  people  according  to  the  law,  he  took  the 
blood  of  calves  and  of  goats,  with  water,  and 
scarlet  wool,  and  hyssop,  and  sprinkled  both 
the  book  and  all  the  people,  saying,  This  is 
the  blood  of  the  testament  which  God  hath 


BIBLE  GEMS.  41 

enjoined  unto  you.  Moreover  he  sprinkled 
likewise  with  blood  both  the  tabernacle,  and 
all  the  vessels  of  the  ministry.  And  almost 
all  things  are  by  the  law  purged  with  blood  ; 
and  without  shedding  of  blood  is  no  remis- 
sion. It  was  therefore  necessary  that  the 
patterns  of  things  in  the  heavens  should  be 
purified  with  these  ;  but  the  heavenly  things 
themselves  with  better  sacrifices  than  these. 
For  Christ  is  not  entered  into  the  holy  places 
made  with  hands,  which  are  the  figures  of 
the  true  ;  but  into  heaven  itself,  now  to  ap- 
pear in  the  presence  of  God  for  us  :  nor  yet 
that  he  should  offer  himself  often,  as  the 
high  priest  entereth  into  the  holy  place 
every  year  with  blood  of  others  ;  for  then 
must  he  often  have  suffered  since  the  foun- 
dation of  the  world  :  but  now  once  in  the 
end  of  the  world  hath  he  appeared  to  put 
away  sin  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself.  And  as 
it  is  appointed  unto  men  once  to  die,  but 
after  this  the  judgment :  so  Christ  was  once 
offered  to  bear  the  sins  of  many  ;  and  unto 
them  that  look  for  him  shall  he  appear  the 
second  time  without  sin  unto  salvation. 

Above  when  he  said,  Sacrifice  and  offering 
and  burnt  offerings  and  offering  for  sin  thou 
wouldest  not,  neither  hadst  pleasure  therein  ; 
which  are  offered  by  the  law  ;  then  said  he, 
Lo,  I  come  to  do  thy  will,  O  God.  He  tak- 
eth  away  the  first,  that  he  may  establish  the 
second.  By  the  which  will  we  are  sanctified 
through  the  offering  of  the  body  of  Jesus 


42  BIBLE  GEMS. 

Christ  once  for  all.  And  every  priest  stand- 
eth  daily  ministering  and  offering  oftentimes 
the  same  sacrifices,  which  can  never  take 
away  sins  :  but  this  man,  after  he  had  offered 
one  sacrifice  for  sins  for  ever,  sat  down  on 
the  right  hand  of  God  ;  from  henceforth  ex- 
pecting till  his  enemies  be  made  his  foot- 
stool. For  by  one  offering  he  hath  perfected 
for  ever  them  that  are  sanctified.  Whereof 
the  Holy  Ghost  also  is  a  witness  to  us  :  for 
after  that  he  had  said  before,  This  is  the  cov- 
enant that  I  will  make  with  them  after  those 
days,  saith  the  Lord  ;  I  will  put  my  laws 
into  their  hearts,  and  in  their  minds  will  I 
write  them  ;  and  their  sins  and  iniquities 
will  I  remember  no  more.  Now  where  re- 
mission of  these  is,  there  is  no  more  offering 
for  sin.  Having  therefore,  brethren,  bold- 
ness to  enter  into  the  holiest  by  the  blood  of 
Jesus,  by  a  new  and  living  way,  which  he 
hath  consecrated  for  us,  through  the  vail, 
that  is  to  say,  his  flesh  ;  and  having  a  high 
priest  over  the  house  of  God  ;  let  us  draw 
near  with  a  true  heart  in  full  assurance  of 
faith,  having  our  hearts  sprinkled  from  an 
evil  conscience,  and  our  bodies  washed  with 
pure  water. — Heb.  ix.  11-28  ;  x.  8-22. 


CHAPTER  III. 

RUI.ES  OF  RIGHT  CONDUCT. 

The  Ten  Commandments.  And  God 
spake  all  these  words,  saying,  I  am  the  Lord 
thy  God,  which  have  brought  thee  out  of  the 
land  of  Egypt,  out  of  the  house  of  bondage. 

Thou  shalt  have  no  other  gods  before  me. 

Thou  shalt  not  make  unto  thee  any  graven 
image,  or  any  likeness  of  any  thing  that  is 
in  heaven  above,  or  that  is  in  the  earth  be- 
neath, or  that  is  in  the  water  under  the 
earth  :  thou  shalt  not  bow  down  thyself  to 
them,  nor  serve  them  :  for  I  the  Lord  thy 
God  am  a  jealous  God,  visiting  the  iniquity 
of  the  fathers  upon  the  children  unto  the 
third  and  fourth  generation  of  them  that 
hate  me  ;  and  shewing  mercy  unto  thousands 
of  them  that  love  me,  and  keep  my  com- 
mandments. 

Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  the  Lord 
thy  God  in  vain  :  for  the  Lord  will  not  hold 
him  guiltless  that  taketh  his  name  in  vain. 

Remember  the  sabbath  day,  to  keep  it 
holy.  Six  days  shalt  thou  labour,  and  do 
all  thy  work  :  but  the  seventh  day  is  the 
sabbath  of  the  Lord  thy  God  :  in  it  thou 
shalt  not  do  any  work,  thou,  nor  thy  son, 
nor  thy  daughter,  thy  manservant,  nor  thy 
maidservant,  nor  thy  cattle,  nor  thy  stranger 
that  is  within  thy  gates  :  for  in  six  days  the 
(43) 


44  BIBLE  GEMS. 

Lord  made  heaven  and  earth,  the  sea,  and 
all  that  in  them  is,  and  rested  the  seventh 
day  :  wherefore  the  Lord  blessed  the  sabbath 
day,  and  hallowed  it. 

Honour  thy  father  and  thy  mother  :  that 
thy  days  may  be  long  upon  the  land  which 
the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee. 

Thou  shalt  not  kill. 

Thou  shalt  not  commit  adultery. 

Thou  shalt  not  steal. 

Thou  shalt  not  bear  false  witness  against 
thy  neighbour. 

Thou  shalt  not  covet  thy  neighbour's 
house,  thou  shalt  not  covet  thy  neighbour's 
wife,  nor  his  manservant,  nor  his  maidserv- 
ant, nor  his  ox,  nor  his  ass,  nor  any  thing 
that  is  thy  neighbor's.— Ex.  xx.  1-17. 

A  Book  of  Good  Hints.  (See  Book  of 
Proverbs.  ) 

A  Life  Motto.  Whatsoever  thy  hand  find- 
eth  to  do,  do  it  with  thy  might ;  for  there  is 
no  work,  nor  device,  nor  knowledge,  nor 
wisdom,  in  the  grave,  whither  thou  goest. — 
Ecci,.  ix.  10. 

Youth's  Great  Essential.  Remember  now 
thy  Creator  in  the  days  of  thy  youth,  while 
the  evil  days  come  not,  nor  the' years  draw 
nigh,  when  thou  shalt  say,  I  have  no  pleas- 
ure in  them  ;  while  the  sun,  or  the  light,  or 
the  moon,  or  the  stars,  be  not  darkened,  nor 


BIBLE  GEMS.  45 

the  clouds  return  after  the  rain  :  in  the  day 
when  the  keepers  of  the  house  shall  tremble, 
and  the  strong  men  shall  bow  themselves,  and 
the  grinders  cease  because  they  are  few,  and 
those  that  look  out  of  the  windows  be  dark- 
ened, and  the  doors  shall  be  shut  in  the 
streets,  when  the  sound  of  the  grinding 
is  low,  and  he  shall  rise  up  at  the  voice 
of  the  bird,  and  all  the  daughters  of  music 
shall  be  brought  low  ;  also  when  they  shall 
be  afraid  of  that  which  is  high,  and  fears 
shall  be  in  the  way,  and  the  almond  tree 
shall  flourish,  and  the  grasshopper  shall  be 
a  burden,  and  desire  shall  fail :  because  man 
goeth  to  his  long  home,  and  the  mourn- 
ers go  about  the  streets  :  or  ever  the  silver 
cord  be  loosed,  or  the  golden  bowl  be  broken, 
or  the  pitcher  be  broken  at  the  fountain,  or 
the  wheel  broken  at  the  cistern.  Then  shall 
the  dust  return  to  the  earth  as  it  was  :  and 
the  spirit  shall  return  unto  God  who  gave  it. 
— Ecci,.  xii.  1-7. 

Christ's  Rules  for  the  Regenerate  Life. 
(See  Matthew,  chaps,  v.  to  vii.,  xviii.,  xix.) 

The  Golden  Rule.  Therefore  all  things 
whatsoever  ye  would  that  men  should  do  to 
you,  do  ye  even  so  to  them  :  for  this  is  the 
law  and  the  prophets. — MaTT.  vii.  12. 

The  Rule  of  Forgiveness.  Then  came 
Peter  to  him,  and  said,  Lord,  how  oft  shall 


46  BIBLE  GEMS. 

my  brother  sin  against  me,  and  I  forgive 
him  ?  till  seven  times  ?  Jesus  saith  unto  him, 
I  say  not  unto  thee,  Until  seven  times  :  but, 
Until  seventy  times  seven. — Matt,  xviii.  21, 

22. 

The  Great  Commandment.  But  when  the 
Pharisees  had  heard  that  he  had  put  the  Sad- 
ducees  to  silence,  they  were  gathered  to- 
gether. Then  one  of  them,  which  was  a 
lawyer,  asked  him  a  question,  tempting  him, 
and  saying,  Master,  which  is  the  great  com- 
mandment in  the  law?  Jesus  said  unto  him, 
Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all 
thy  heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all 
thy  mind.  This  is  the  first  and  great  com- 
mandment. And  the  second  is  like  unto  it, 
Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbour  as  thyself. 
On  these  two  commandments  hang  all  the 
law  and  the  prophets. — Matt.  xxii.  34-40. 

A  Good  Code  for  Daily  Living.  I  beseech 
you  therefore,  brethren,  by  the  mercies  of 
God,  that  ye  present  your  bodies  a  living 
sacrifice,  holy,  acceptable  unto  God,  which 
is  your  reasonable  service.  And  be  not  con- 
formed to  this  world  :  but  be  ye  transformed 
by  the  renewing  of  your  mind,  that  ye  may 
prove  what  is  that  good,  and  acceptable,  and 
perfect  will  of  God.  For  I  say,  through  the 
grace  given  unto  me,  to  every  man  that  is 
among  you,  not  to  think  of  himself  more 
highly  than  he  ought  to  think  ;  but  to  think 


BIBLE  GEMS.  47 

soberly,  according  as  God  hath  dealt  to  every 
man  the  measure  of  faith.  For  as  we  have 
many  members  in  one  body,  and  all  members 
have  not  the  same  office  :  so  we,  being  many, 
are  one  body  in  Christ,  and  every  one  mem- 
bers one  of  another.  Having  then  gifts  dif- 
fering according  to  the  grace  that  is  given  to 
us,  whether  prophecy,  let  us  prophesy  ac- 
cording to  the  proportion  of  faith  ;  or  minis- 
try, let  us  wait  on  our  ministering  ;  or  he 
that  teacheth,  on  teaching ;  or  he  that  exhort- 
eth,  on  exhortation  :  he  that  giveth,  let  him 
do  it  with  simplicity  ;  he  that  ruleth,  with 
diligence ;  he  that  sheweth  mercy,  with 
cheerfulness.  Let  love  be  without  dissimu- 
lation. Abhor  that  which  is  evil  ;  cleave  to 
that  which  is  good.  Be  kindly  affectioned  one 
to  another  with  brotherly  love;  in  honour 
preferring  one  another ;  not  slothful  in  busi- 
ness ;  fervent  in  spirit  ;  serving  the  Lord  ; 
rejoicing  in  hope  ;  patient  in  tribulation  ; 
continuing  instant  in  prayer  ;  distributing  to 
the  necessity  of  saints  ;  given  to  hospitality. 
Bless  them  which  persecute  you  :  bless,  and 
curse  not.  Rejoice  with  them  that  do  rejoice, 
and  weep  with  them  that  weep.  Be  of  the 
same  mind  one  toward  another.  Mind  not 
high  things,  but  condescend  to  men  of  low 
estate.  Be  not  wise  in  your  own  conceits. 
Recompense  to  no  man  evil  for  evil.  Pro- 
vide things  honest  in  the  sight  of  all  men. 
If  it  be  possible,  as  much  as  lieth  in  you,  live 
peaceably  with   all   men.      Dearly  beloved, 


48  BIBLE  GEMS. 

avenge  not  yourselves,  but  rather  give  place 
unto  wrath  :  for  it  is  written,  Vengeance  is 
mine  ;  I  will  repay,  saith  the  Lord.  There- 
fore if  thine  enemy  hunger,  feed  him  ;  if  he 
thirst,  give  him  drink  :  for  in  so  doing  thou 
shalt  heap  coals  of  fire  on  his  head.  Be  not 
overcome  of  evil,  but  overcome  evil  with 
good. — Rom.  xii.  1-21. 

A  Good  General  Rule.  Finally,  brethren, 
whatsoever  things  are  true,  whatsoever  things 
are  honest,  whatsoever  things  are  just,  what- 
soever things  are  pure,  whatsoever  things 
are  lovely,  whatsoever  things  are  of  good  re- 
port ;  if  there  be  any  virtue,  and  if  there  be 
any  praise,  think  on  these  things. — Phii,. 
iv.  8. 

For  Various  Particular  Duties.  (See 
Christ's  Sermons  and  Parables  and  New  Tes- 
tament Epistles. ) 


CHAPTER  IV. 

BLESSEDNESSES  AND  WOES. 

I.  Blessednesses. 

Abraham's  Blessedness.  Now  the  Lord 
had  said  unto  Abram,  Get  thee  out  of  thy 
country,  and  from  thy  kindred,  and  from  thy 
father's  house,  unto  a  land  that  I  will  shew 
thee  :  and  I  will  make  of  thee  a  great  nation, 
and  I  will  bless  thee,  and  make  thy  name 
great ;  and  thou  shalt  be  a  blessing  :  and  I 
will  bless  them  that  bless  thee,  and  curse 
him  that  curseth  thee  :  and  in  thee  shall  all 
families  of  the  earth  be  blessed. — Gen.  xii. 
i-3- 

Sarah's  Blessedness.  And  God  said  unto 
Abraham,  As  for  Sarai  thy  wife,  thou  shalt 
not  call  her  name  Sarai,  but  Sarah  shall  her 
name  be.  And  I  will  bless  her,  and  give 
thee  a  son  also  of  her  :  yea,  I  will  bless  her, 
and  she  shall  be  a  mother  of  nations  ;  kings 
of  people  shall  be  of  her. — Gen.  xvii.  15,  16. 

Blessing  of  Obedience.  And  the  Angel  of 
the  Lord  called  unto  Abraham  out  of  heaven 
the  second  time,  and  said,  By  myself  have  I 
sworn,  saith  the  Lord,  for  because  thou  hast 
done  this  thing,  and  hast  not  withheld  thy 
son,  thine  only  son,  that  in  blessing  I  will 
bless  thee,  and  in  multiplying  I  will  multi- 
(49) 


50  BIBLE  GEMS. 

ply  thy  seed  as  the  stars  of  the  heaven,  and 
as  the  sand  which  is  upon  the  sea  shore  ;  and 
thy  seed  shall  possess  the  gate  of  his  ene- 
mies ;  and  in  thy  seed  shall  all  the  nations 
of  the  earth  be  blessed  ;  because  thou  hast 
obeyed  my  voice. — Gen.  xxii.  15-18. 

Israel's  Blessedness  (spoken  by  Balaam). 
And  he  took  up  his  parable,  and  said,  Balak 
the  king  of  Moab  hath  brought  me  from 
Aram,  out  of  the  mountains  of  the  east,  say- 
ing, Come,  curse  me  Jacob,  and  come,  defy 
Israel.  How  shall  I  curse,  whom  God  hath 
not  cursed  ?  or  how  shall  I  defy,  whom  the 
Lord  hath  not  defied  ?  For  from  the  top  of 
the  rocks  I  see  him,  and  from  the  hills  I  be- 
hold him  :  lo,  the  people  shall  dwell  alone, 
and  shall  not  be  reckoned  among  the  na- 
tions. Who  can  count  the  dust  of  Jacob, 
and  the  number  of  the  fourth  part  of  Israel  ? 
Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and 
let  my  last  end  be  like  his  !— Num.  xxiii. 
7-10. 

The  Blessings  of  Obedience  (spoken  by 
Moses).  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  if 
thou  shalt  hearken  diligently  unto  the  voice 
of  the  Lord  thy  God,  to  observe  and  to  do 
all  his  commandments  which  I  command 
thee  this  day,  that  the  Lord  thy  God  will 
set  thee  on  high  above  all  nations  of  the 
earth  :  and  all  these  blessings  shall  come 
on   thee,   and   overtake  thee,    if  thou  shalt 


BIBLE  GEMS.  51 

hearken  unto  the  voice  of  the  Lord  thy  God. 
Blessed  shalt  thou  be  in  the  city,  and  blessed 
shalt  thou  be  in  the  field.  Blessed  shall  be 
the  fruit  of  thy  body,  and  the  fruit  of  thy 
ground,  and  the  fruit  of  thy  cattle,  the  in- 
crease of  thy  kine,  and  the  flocks  of  thy 
sheep. — DEUT.  xxviii.  1-4. 

The  Godly  Contrasted  with  the  Ungodly. 
Blessed  is  the  man  that  walketh  not  in  the 
counsel  of  the  ungodly,  nor  standeth  in  the 
way  of  sinners,  nor  sitteth  in  the  seat  of  the 
scornful.  But  his  delight  is  in  the  law  of 
the  Lord  ;  and  in  his  law  doth  he  meditate 
day  and  night.  And  he  shall  be  like  a  tree 
planted  by  the  rivers  of  water,  that  bringeth 
forth  his  fruit  in  his  season  ;  his  leaf  also 
shall  not  wither ;  and  whatsoever  he  doeth 
shall  prosper.  The  ungodly  are  not  so  :  but 
are  like  the  chaff  which  the  wind  driveth 
away.  Therefore  the  ungodly  shall  not  stand 
in  the  judgment,  nor  sinners  in  the  congre- 
gation of  the  righteous.  For  the  Lord  know- 
eth  the  way  of  the  righteous  :  but  the  way  of 
the  ungodly  shall  perish. — Ps.  i.  1-6. 

The  Blessedness  of  Trust  in  the  Lord. 
The  Lord  is  my  shepherd  ;  I  shall  not  want. 
He  maketh  me  to  lie  down  in  green  pastures  : 
he  leadeth  me  beside  the  still  waters.  He 
restoreth  my  soul  :  he  leadeth  me  in  the 
paths  of  righteousness  for  his  name's  sake. 
Yea,  though  I  walk  through  the  valley  of 


52  BIBLE  GEMS. 

the  shadow  of  death,  I  will  fear  no  evil  :  for 
thou  art  with  me  ;  thy  rod  and  thy  staff  they 
comfort  me.  Thou  preparest  a  table  before 
me  in  the  presence  of  mine  enemies  :  thou 
anointest  my  head  with  oil ;  my  cup  runneth 
over.  Surely  goodness  and  mercy  shall  fol- 
low me  all  the  days  of  my  life  :  and  I  will 
dwell  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  for  ever. — PS. 
xxiii.  1-6. 

Blessedness  in  Sins  Forgiven.  Blessed  is 
he  whose  transgression  is  forgiven,  whose 
sin  is  covered.  Blessed  is  the  man  unto 
whom  the  Lord  imputeth  not  iniquity,  and 
in  whose  spirit  there  is  no  guile.  When  I 
kept  silence,  my  bones  waxed  old  through 
my  roaring  all  the  day  long.  For  day  and 
night  thy  hand  was  heavy  upon  me  :  my 
moisture  is  turned  into  the  drought  of  sum- 
mer. I  acknowledged  my  sin  unto  thee,  and 
mine  iniquity  have  I  not  hid.  I  said,  I  will 
confess  my  transgressions  unto  the  Lord  ; 
and  thou  forgavest  the  iniquity  of  my  sin. 
For  this  shall  every  one  that  is  godly  pray 
unto  thee  in  a  time  that  thou  mayest  be 
found  :  surely  in  the  floods  of  great  waters 
they  shall  not  come  nigh  unto  him.  Thou 
art  my  hiding  place  ;  thou  shalt  preserve  me 
from  trouble  ;  thou  shalt  compass  me  about 
with  songs  of  deliverance.  I  will  instruct 
thee  and  teach  thee  in  the  way  which  thou 
shalt  go  :  I  will  guide  thee  with  mine  eye. 
Be  ye  not  as  the  horse,  or  as  the  mule,  which 


BIBLE  GEMS.  53 

have  no  understanding  :  whose  mouth  must 
be  held  in  with  bit  and  bridle,  lest  they  corn£ 
near  unto  thee.  Many  sorrows  shall  be  to 
the  wicked  :  but  he  that  trusteth  in  the  Lord, 
mercy  shall  compass  him  about.  Be  glad  in 
the  Lord,  and  rejoice,  ye  righteous  :  and 
shout  for  joy,  all  ye  that  are  upright  in 
heart. — PS.  xxxii.  i-ll. 

Estate  of  Godly  and  Wicked  Contrasted. 
(See  Ps.  xxxvii.  and  Book  of  Proverbs.) 

Blessedness  of  Communion  with  God. 
How  amiable  are  thy  tabernacles,  O  Lord  of 
hosts  !  My  soul  longeth,  yea,  even  fainteth 
for  the  courts  of  the  Lord  :  my  heart  and  my 
flesh  crieth  out  for  the  living  God.  Yea, 
the  sparrow  hath  found  a  house,  and  the 
swallow  a  nest  for  herself,  where  she  may 
lay  her  young,  even  thine  altars,  O  Lord  of 
hosts,  my  King,  and  my  God.  Blessed  are 
they  that  dwell  in  thy  house  :  they  will 
be  still  praising  thee.  Blessed  is  the  man 
whose  strength  is  in  thee ;  in  whose  heart 
are  the  ways  of  them.  Who  passing 
through  the  valley  of  Baca  make  it  a 
well ;  the  rain  also  filleth  the  pools.  They 
go  from  strength  to  strength,  every  one  of 
them  in  Zion  appeareth  before  God.  O  Lord 
God  of  hosts,  hear  my  prayer  :  give  ear,  O 
God  of  Jacob.  Behold,  O  God  our  shield, 
and  look  upon  the  face  of  thine  anointed. 
For  a  day  in  thy  courts  is  better  than  a  thou- 


54  BIBLE  GEMS. 

sand.  I  had  rather  be  a  doorkeeper  in  the 
house  of  my  God,  than  to  dwell  in  the  tents 
of  wickedness.  For  the  Lord  God  is  a  sun 
and  shield  :  the  Lord  will  give  grace  and 
glory  :  no  good  thing  will  he  withhold  from 
them  that  walk  uprightly.  O  Lord  of  hosts, 
blessed  is  the  man  that  trusteth  in  thee. — 
PS.  Ixxxiv.  1-12. 

Blessedness  of  the  Fear  of  the  Lord. 
Praise  ye  the  Lord.  Blessed  is  the  man  that 
feareth  the  Lord,  that  delighteth  greatly  in 
his  commandments.  His  seed  shall  be  mighty 
upon  earth  :  the  generation  of  the  upright 
shall  be  blessed.  Wealth  and  riches  shall  be 
in  his  house  :  and  his  righteousness  eudureth 
for  ever.  Unto  the  upright  there  ariseth 
light  in  the  darkness :  he  is  gracious,  and  full 
of  compassion,  and  righteous.  A  good  man 
sheweth  favour,  and  lendeth  :  he  will  guide 
his  affairs  with  discretion.  Surely  he  shall 
not  be  moved  for  ever  :  the  righteous  shall 
be  in  everlasting  remembrance.  He  shall 
not  be  afraid  of  evil  tidings  :  his  heart  is 
fixed,  trusting  in  the  Lord.  His  heart  is  es- 
tablished, he  shall  not  be  afraid,  until  he  see 
his  desire  upon  his  enemies.  He  hath  dis- 
persed, he  hath  given  to  the  poor  ;  his  right- 
eousness endureth  for  ever  ;  his  horn  shall  be 
exalted  with  honour.  The  wicked  shall  see 
it,  and  be  grieved  ;  he  shall  gnash  with  his 
teeth,  and  melt  away :  the  desire  of  the 
wicked  shall  perish. — Ps.  cxii.  i-io. 


BIBLE  GEMS.  55 

The  Blessings  of  the  God-fearing.  Blessed 
is  every  one  that  feareth  the  Lord  ;  that  walk- 
eth  in  his  ways.  For  thou  shalt  eat  the  labour 
of  thine  hands  :  happy  shalt  thou  be,  and  it 
shall  be  well  with  thee.  Thy  wife  shall  be 
as  a  fruitful  vine  by  the  sides  of  thine  house  : 
thy  children  like  olive  plants  round  about 
thy  table.  Behold,  that  thus  shall  the  man 
be  blessed  that  feareth  the  Lord.  The  Lord 
shall  bless  thee  out  of  Zion  :  and  thou  shalt 
see  the  good  of  Jerusalem  all  the  days  of  thy 
life.  Yea,  thou  shalt  see  thy  children's  chil- 
dren, and  peace  upon  Israel. — Ps.  cxxviii. 
1-6. 

The  Blessedness  of  Seeking  God  Early. 
Remember  now  thy  Creator  in  the  days  of 
thy  youth,  while  the  evil  days  come  not,  nor 
the  years  draw  nigh,  when  thou  shalt  say,  I 
have  no  pleasure  in  them  ;  while  the  sun,  or 
the  light,  or  the  moon,  or  the  stars,  be  not 
darkened,  nor  the  clouds  return  after  the 
rain  :  in  the  day  when  the  keepers  of  the 
house  shall  tremble,  and  the  strong  men 
shall  bow  themselves,  and  the  grinders  cease 
because  they  are  few,  and  those  that  look 
out  of  the  windows  be  darkened,  and  the 
doors  shall  be  shut  in  the  streets,  when  the 
sound  of  the  grinding  is  low,  and  he  shall 
rise  up  at  the  voice  of  the  bird,  and  all  the 
daughters  of  music  shall  be  brought  low  ; 
also  when  they  shall  be  afraid  of  that  which 
is  high,  and  fears  shall  be  in  the  way,  and 


56  BIBLE  GEMS. 

the  almond  tree  shall  flourish,  and  the  grass- 
hopper shall  be  a  burden,  and  desire  shall 
fail  :  because  man  goeth  to  his  long  home, 
and  the  mourners  go  about  the  streets  :  or 
ever  the  silver  cord  be  loosed,  or  the  golden 
bowl  be  broken,  or  the  pitcher  be  broken  at 
the  fountain,  or  the  wheel  broken  at  the  cis- 
tern. Then  shall  the  dust  return  to  the  earth 
as  it  was  :  and  the  spirit  shall  return  unto 
God  who  gave  it. — Ecci«.  xii.  1-7. 

Christ's  Beatitudes.  And  seeing  the  multi- 
tudes, he  went  up  into  a  mountain  :  and  when 
he  was  set,  his  disciples  came  unto  him  :  and 
he  opened  his  mouth,  and  taught  them,  say- 
ing, Blessed  are  the  poor  in  spirit :  for  theirs 
is  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  Blessed  are  they 
that  mourn  :  for  they  shall  be  comforted. 
Blessed  are  the  meek  :  for  they  shall  inherit 
the  earth.  Blessed  are  they  which  do  hun- 
ger and  thirst  after  righteousness  :  for  they 
shall  be  filled.  Blessed  are  the  merciful  :  for 
they  shall  obtain  mercy.  Blessed  are  the 
pure  in  heart :  for  they  shall  see  God.  Blessed 
are  the  peacemakers  :  for  they  shall  be  called 
the  children  of  God.  Blessed  are  they  which 
are  persecuted  for  righteousness'  sake  :  for 
theirs  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  Blessed 
are  ye,  when  men  shall  revile  you,  and  per- 
secute you,  and  shall  say  all  manner  of  evil 
against  you  falsely,  for  my  sake.  Rejoice, 
and  be  exceeding  glad  :  for  great  is  your  re- 
ward in  heaven  :  for  so  persecuted  they  the 


BIBLE  GEMS.  57 

prophets  which  were  before  you.     Matt.  v. 

I-I2. 

Final  Blessings.  Then  shall  the  King  say 
unto  them  on  his  right  hand,  Come,  ye 
blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom 
prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation  of  the 
world  :  for  I  was  a  hungered,  and  ye  gave 
meat :  I  was  thirsty,  and  ye  gave  me  drink  : 
I  was  a  stranger,  and  ye  took  me  in  :  naked, 
and  ye  clothed  me  :  I  was  sick,  and  ye  vis- 
ited me  :  I  was  in  prison,  and  ye  came  unto 
me.  Then  shall  the  righteous  answer  him, 
saying,  Lord,  when  saw  we  thee  a  hungered, 
and  fed  thee?  or  thirsty,  and  gave  thee 
drink  ?  When  saw  we  thee  a  stranger,  and 
took  thee  in  ?  or  naked,  and  clothed  thee  ? 
Or  when  saw  we  thee  sick,  or  in  prison,  and 
came  unto  thee  ?  And  the  King  shall  answer 
and  say  unto  them,  Verily  I  say  unto  you, 
Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of  the 
least  of  these  my  brethren,  ye  have  done  it 
unto  me.  .  .  .  And  I  heard  a  voice  from 
heaven  saying  unto  me,  Write,  Blessed  are 
the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord  from  hence- 
forth :  Yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  that  they  may 
rest  from  their  labours  ;  and  their  works  do 
follow  them.  .  .  .  Blessed  and  holy  is  he  that 
hath  part  in  the  first  resurrection  :  on  such 
the  second  death  hath  no  power,  but  they 
shall  be  priests  of  God  and  of  Christ,  and 
shall  reign  with  him  a  thousand  years.  .  .  . 
Blessed  are  they  that  do  his  commandments, 


58  BIBLE  GEMS. 

that  they  may  have  right  to  the  tree  of  life, 
aud  may  enter  in  through  the  gates  into  the 
city. — Matt.  xxv.  34-40 ;  Rev.  xiv.  13  ;  xx. 
6  ;  xxii.  14. 

II.  Woes. 

Curses  Pronounced.    (See  DEUTERONOMY 

xxvii.  14-26.) 

The  Curses  of  Disobedience.  But  it  shall 
come  to  pass,  if  thou  wilt  not  hearken  unto 
the  voice  of  the  Lord  thy  God,  to  observe  to 
do  all  his  commandments  and  his  statutes 
which  I  command  thee  this  day  ;  that  all 
these  curses  shall  come  upon  thee,  and  over- 
take thee  :  Cursed  shalt  thou  be  in  the  city, 
and  cursed  shalt  thou  be  in  the  field.  Cursed 
shall  be  thy  basket  and  thy  store.  Cursed 
shall  be  the  fruit  of  thy  body,  and  the  fruit  of 
thy  land,  the  increase  of  thy  kine,  and  the 
flocks  of  thy  sheep.  Cursed  shalt  thou  be 
when  thou  comest  in,  and  cursed  shalt  thou 
be  when  thou  goest  out.  The  Lord  shall 
send  upon  thee  cursing,  vexation,  and  re- 
buke, in  all  that  thou  settest  thine  hand  unto 
for  to  do,  until  thou  be  destroyed,  and  until 
thou  perish  quickly  ;  because  of  the  wicked- 
ness of  thy  doings,  whereby  thou  hast  for- 
saken me.  The  Lord  shall  make  the  pesti- 
lence cleave  unto  thee,  until  he  have  con- 
sumed thee  from  off  the  land,  whither  thou 
goest  to  possess  it.  The  Lord  shall  smite 
thee  with  a  consumption,  and  with  a  fever, 


BIBLE  GEMS.  59 

and  with  an  inflammation,  and  with  an  ex- 
treme burning,  and  with  the  sword,  and 
with  blasting,  and  with  mildew  ;  and  they 
shall  pursue  thee  until  thou  perish.  And  thy 
heaven  that  is  over  thy  head  shall  be  brass, 
and  the  earth  that  is  under  thee  shall  be  iron. 
The  Lord  shall  make  the  rain  of  thy  land 
powder  and  dust :  from  heaven  shall  it  come 
down  upon  thee,  until  thou  be  destroyed. 
The  Lord  shall  cause  thee  to  be  smitten  be- 
before  thine  enemies  :  thou  shalt  go  out  one 
way  against  them,  and  flee  seven  ways  be- 
fore them  ;  and  shalt  be  removed  into  all  the 
kingdoms  of  the  earth.  And  thy  carcass 
shall  be  meat  unto  all  fowls  of  the  air,  and 
unto  the  beasts  of  the  earth,  and  no  man 
shall  fray  them  away.  The  Lord  will  smite 
thee  with  the  botch  of  Egypt,  and  with  the 
emerods,  and  with  the  scab,  and  with  the 
itch,  whereof  thou  canst  not  be  healed.  The 
Lord  shall  smite  thee  with  madness,  and 
blindness,  and  astonishment  of  heart  :  and 
thou  shalt  grope  at  noonday,  as  the  blind 
gropeth  in  darkness,  and  thou  shalt  not  pros- 
per in  thy  ways  :  and  thou  shalt  be  only  op- 
pressed and  spoiled  evermore,  and  no  man 
shall  save  thee.  Thou  shalt  betroth  a  wife,  and 
another  man  shall  lie  with  her  :  thou  shalt 
build  a  house,  and  thou  shalt  not  dwell  there- 
in :  thou  shalt  plant  a  vineyard,  and  shalt  not 
gather  the  grapes  thereof.  Thine  ox  shall  be 
slain  before  thine  eyes,  and  thou  shalt  not  eat 
thereof :  thine  ass  shall  be  violently  taken 


00  BIBLE  GEMS. 

away  from  before  thy  face, "and  shall  not  be 
restored  to  thee  :  thy  sheep  shall  be  given 
unto  thine  enemies,  and  thou  shalt  have 
none  to  rescue  them.  Thy  sons  and  thy 
daughters  shall  be  given  unto  another  people, 
and  thine  eyes  shall  look,  and  fail  with  long- 
ing for  them  all  the  day  long :  and  there 
shall  be  no  might  in  thine  hand.  The  fruit 
of  thy  land,  and  all  thy  labours,  shall  a  na- 
tion which  thou  knowest  not  eat  up  ;  and 
thou  shalt  be  only  oppressed  and  crushed 
alway  :  so  that  thou  shalt  be  mad  for  the 
sight  of  thine  eyes  which  thou  shalt  see. 
The  Lord  shall  smite  thee  in  the  knees,  and 
in  the  legs,  with  a  sore  botch  that  cannot  be 
healed,  from  the  sole  of  thy  foot  unto  the 
top  of  thy  head.  The  Lord  shall  bring  thee, 
and  thy  king  which  thou  shalt  set  over  thee, 
unto  a  nation  which  neither  thou  nor  thy 
fathers  have  known  ;  and  there  shalt  thou 
serve  other  gods,  wood  and  stone.  And  thou 
shalt  become  an  astonishment,  a  proverb, 
and  a  byword,  among  all  nations  whither 
the  Lord  shall  lead  thee.  Thou  shalt  carry 
much  seed  out  into  the  field,  and  shalt 
gather  but  little  in  ;  for  the  locust  shall  con- 
sume it.  Thou  shalt  plant  vineyards,  and 
dress  them,  but  shalt  neither  drink  of  the 
wine,  nor  gather  the  grapes  ;  for  the  worms 
shall  eat  them.  Thou  shalt  have  olive  trees 
throughout  all  thy  coast,  but  thou  shalt  not 
anoint  thyself  with  the  oil  ;  for  thine  olive 
shall  cast  his  fruit.     Thou  shalt  beget  sons 


BIBLE  GEMS.  61 

and  daughters,  but  thou  shalt  not  enjoy 
them  ;  for  they  shall  go  into  captivity.  All 
thy  trees  and  fruit  of  thy  land  shall  the 
locust  consume.  The  stranger  that  is  within 
thee  shall  get  up  above  thee  very  high  ;  and 
thou  shalt  come  down  very  low.  He  shall 
lend  to  thee,  and  thou  shalt  not  lend  to  him  : 
he  shall  be  the  head,  and  thou  shalt  be 
the  tail.  Moreover  all  these  curses  shall 
come  upon  thee,  and  shall  pursue  thee,  and 
overtake  thee,  till  thou  be  destroyed  ;  be- 
cause thou  hearkenedst  not  unto  the  voice  of 
the  Lord  thy  God,  to  keep  his  command- 
ments and  his  statutes  which  he  commanded 
thee.  And  they  shall  be  upon  thee  for  a 
sign  and  for  a  wonder,  and  upon  thy  seed 
forever.  Because  thou  servedst  not  the  Lord 
thy  God  with  joy  fulness,  and  with  gladness 
of  heart,  for  the  abundance  of  all  things  ; 
therefore  shalt  thou  serve  thine  enemies, 
which  the  Lord  shall  send  against  thee,  in 
hunger,  and  in  thirst,  and  in  nakedness,  and 
in  want  of  all  things  ;  and  he  shall  put  a 
yoke  of  iron  upon  thy  neck,  until  he  have 
destroyed  thee.  The  Lord  shall  bring  a  na- 
tion against  thee  from  far,  from  the  end  of 
the  earth,  as  swift  as  the  eagle  flieth  ;  a  na- 
tion whose  tongue  thou  shalt  not  under- 
stand ;  a  nation  of  fierce  countenance,  which 
shall  not  regard  the  person  of  the  old,  nor 
shew  favour  to  the  young  :  and  he  shall  eat 
the  fruit  of  thy  cattle,  and  the  fruit  of  thy 
land,  until  thou   be  destroyed  :  which  also 


62  BIBLE  GEMS. 

shall  not  leave  thee  either  corn,  wine,  or  oil, 
or  the  increase  of  thy  kine,  or  flocks  of  thy 
sheep,  until  he  have  destroyed  thee.  And 
he  shall  besiege  thee  in  all  thy  gates,  until 
thy  high  and  fenced  walls  come  down,  where- 
in thou  trustedst,  throughout  all  thy  land  : 
and  he  shall  besiege  thee  in  all  thy  gates 
throughout  ail  thy  land,  which  the  Lord  thy 
God  hath  given  thee.  And  thou  shalt  eat 
the  fruit  of  thine  own  body,  the  flesh  of  thy 
sons  and  of  thy  daughters,  which  the  Lord 
thy  God  hath  given  thee,  in  the  siege,  and 
in  the  straitness,  wherewith  thine  enemies 
shall  distress  thee  :  so  that  the  man  that 
is  tender  among  you,  and  very  delicate,  his 
eye  shall  be  evil  toward  his  brother,  and 
toward  the  wife  of  his  bosom,  and  toward  the 
remnant  of  his  children  which  he  shall  leave  : 
so  that  he  will  not  give  to  any  of  them 
of  the  flesh  of  his  children  whom  be  shall 
eat  :  because  be  hath  nothing  left  him  in  the 
siege,  and  in  the  straitness,  wherewith  thine 
enemies  shall  distress  thee  in  all  thy  gates. 
The  tender  and  delicate  woman  among  you, 
which  would  not  adventure  to  set  the  sole  of 
her  foot  upon  the  ground  for  delicateness 
and  tenderness,  her  eye  shall  be  evil  toward 
the  husband  of  her  bosom,  and  toward  her 
son,  and  toward  her  daughter,  and  toward 
her  young  one  that  cometh  out  from  be- 
tween her  feet,  and  toward  her  children 
which  she  shall  bear  :  for  she  shall  eat  them 
for  want  of  all  things  secretly  in  the  siege 


BIBLE  GEMS.  63 

and  straitness,  wherewith  thine  enemy  shall 
distress  thee  in  thy  gates.  If  thou  wilt  not 
observe  to  do  all  the  words  of  this  law  that 
are  written  in  this  book,  that  thou  mayest 
fear  this  glorious  and  fearful  name,  THE 
LORD  THY  GOD  ;  then  the  Lord  will  make 
thy  plagues  wonderful,  and  the  plagues  of 
thy  seed,  even  great  plagues,  and  of  long 
continuance,  and  sore  sicknesses,  and  of 
long  continuance.  Moreover,  he  will  bring 
upon  thee  all  the  diseases  of  Egypt,  which 
thou  wast  afraid  of  ;  and  they  shall  cleave 
unto  thee.  Also  every  sickness,  and  every 
plague,  which  is  not  written  in  the  book  of 
this  law,  them  will  the  Lord  bring  upon 
thee,  until  thou  be  destroyed.  And  ye  shall 
be  left  few  in  number,  whereas  ye  were  as 
the  stars  of  heaven  for  multitude  ;  because 
thou  wouldest  not  obey  the  voice  of  the 
Lord  thy  God.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass, 
that  as  the  Lord  rejoiced  over  you  to  do  you 
good,  and  to  multiply  you  ;  so  the  Lord 
will  rejoice  over  you  to  destroy  you,  and 
to  bring  you  to  nought ;  and  ye  shall  be 
plucked  from  off  the  land  whither  thou 
goest  to  possess  it.  And  the  Lord  shall  scat- 
ter thee  among  all  people,  from  the  one  end 
of  the  earth  even  unto  the  other  ;  and  there 
thou  shalt  serve  other  gods,  which  neither 
thou  nor  thy  fathers  have  known,  even  wood 
and  stone.  And  among  these  nations  shalt 
thou  find  no  ease,  neither  shall  the  sole  of 
thy  foot  have  rest  :  but  the  Lord  shall  give 


64  .  BIBLE  GEMS. 

thee  there  a  trembling  heart,  and  failing  of 
eyes,  and  sorrow  of  mind  :  and  thy  life  shall 
hang  in  doubt  before  thee  ;  and  thou  shalt 
fear  day  and  night,  and  shalt  have  none  as- 
surance of  thy  life  :  in  the  morning  thou 
shalt  say,  Would  God  it  were  even  !  and  at 
even  thou  shalt  say,  Would  God  it  were 
morning  !  for  the  fear  of  thine  heart  where- 
with thou  shalt  fear,  and  for  the  sight  of  thine 
eyes  which  thou  shalt  see.  And  the  Lord 
shall  bring  thee  into  Egypt  again  with  ships, 
by  the  way  whereof  I  spake  unto  thee,  thou 
shalt  see  it  no  more  again  :  and  there  ye 
shall  be  sold  unto  your  enemies  for  bond- 
men and  bondwomen,  and  no  man  shall  buy 
you. — DEUX,  xxviii.  15-68. 

The  Woes  of  the  Drunkard.  Hear  thou, 
my  son,  and  be  wise,  and  guide  thine  heart 
in  the  way.  Be  not  among  winebibbers ; 
among  riotous  eaters  of  flesh  :  for  the  drunk- 
ard and  the  glutton  shall  come  to  poverty  : 
and  drowsiness  shall  clothe  a  man  with  rags. 
Hearken  unto  thy  father  that  begat  thee, 
and  despise  not  thy  mother  when  she  is  old. 
Buy  the  truth,  and  sell  it  not ;  also  wisdom, 
and  instruction,  and  understanding.  The 
father  of  the  righteous  shall  greatly  rejoice  : 
and  he  that  begetteth  a  wise  child  shall  have 
joy  of  him.  Thy  father  and  thy  mother  shall 
be  glad,  and  she  that  bare  thee  shall  rejoice. 
My  son,  give  me  thine  heart,  and  let  thine 
eyes  observe  my  ways.      For  a  whore  is  a 


BIBLE  GEMS.  65 

deep  ditch  ;  and  a  strange  woman  is  a  nar- 
row pit.  She  also  lieth  in  wait  as  for  a  prey, 
and  increaseth  the  transgressors  among  men. 
Who  hath  woe  ?  who  hath  sorrow  ?  who  hath 
contentions  ?  who  hath  babbling  ?  who  hath 
wounds  without  cause  ?  who  hath  redness  of 
eyes  ?  They  that  tarry  long  at  the  wine  ; 
they  that  go  to  seek  mixed  wine.  Look  not 
thou  upon  the  wine  when  it  is  red,  when  it 
giveth  his  colour  in  the  cup,  when  it  mov- 
eth  itself  aright.  At  the  last  it  biteth  like  a 
serpent,  and  stingeth  like  an  adder.  Thine 
eyes  shall  behold  strange  women,  and  thine 
heart  shall  utter  perverse  things.  Yea,  thou 
shalt  be  as  he  that  lieth  down  in  the  midst  of 
the  sea,  or  as  he  that  lieth  upon  the  top  of  a 
mast.  They  have  stricken  me,  shalt  thou 
say,  and  I  was  not  sick  ;  they  have  beaten 
me,  and  I  felt  it  not  :  when  shall  I  awake  ? 
I  will  seek  it  yet  again. — Prov.  xxiii.  19-35. 

God's  Curse  on  Wilful  Sinners.  Now  will 
I  sing  to  my  well  beloved  a  song  of  my  be- 
loved touching  his  vineyard.  My  well  be- 
loved hath  a  vineyard  in  a  very  fruitful  hill.: 
and  he  fenced  it,  and  gathered  out  the  stones 
thereof,  and  planted  it  with  the  choicest  vine, 
and  built  a  tower  in  the  midst  of  it,  and  also 
made  a  winepress  therein  :  and  he  looked 
that  it  should  bring  forth  grapes,  and  it 
brought  forth  wild  grapes.  And  now,  O  in- 
habitants of  Jerusalem,  and  men  of  Judah, 
judge,  I  pray  you,  betwixt  me  and  my  vine- 


66  BIBLE  GEMS. 

yard.  What  could  have  been  done  more  to 
my  vineyard,  that  I  have  not  done  in  it  ? 
wherefore,  when  I  looked  that  it  should  bring 
forth  grapes,  brought  it  forth  wild  grapes  ? 
And  now  go  to  ;  I  will  tell  you  what  I  will 
do  to  my  vineyard  :  I  will  take  away  the 
hedge  thereof,  and  it  shall  be  eaten  up  ;  and 
break  down  the  wall  thereof,  and  it  shall  be 
trodden  down  :  and  I  will  lay  it  waste  :  it 
shall  not  be  pruned,  nor  digged  ;  but  there 
shall  come  up  briers  and  thorns  :  I  will  also 
command  the  clouds  that  they  rain  no  rain 
upon  it.  For  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord  of 
hosts  is  the  house  of  Israel,  and  the  men  of 
Judah  his  pleasant  plant ;  and  he  looked  for 
judgment,  but  behold  oppression  ;  for  right- 
eousness, but  behold  a  cry.  Woe  unto  them 
that  join  house  to  house,  that  lay  field  to 
field,  till  there  be  no  place,  that  they  may  be 
placed  alone  in  the  midst  of  the  earth  !  In 
mine  ears  said  the  Lord  of  hosts,  Of  a  truth 
many  houses  shall  be  desolate,  even  great 
and  fair,  without  inhabitant.  Yea,  ten  acres 
of  vineyard  shall  yield  one  bath,  and  the 
seed  of  a  homer  shall  yield  an  ephah.  Woe 
unto  them  that  rise  up  early  in  the  morning, 
that  they  may  follow  strong  drink  ;  that  con- 
tinue until  night,  till  wine  inflame  them  ! 
And  the  harp  and  the  viol,  the  tabret  and 
pipe,  and  wine,  are  in  their  feasts  :  but  they 
regard  not  the  work  of  the  Lord,  neither  con- 
sider the  operation  of  his  hands.  Therefore 
my  people  are  gone  into  captivity,  because 


BIBLE  GEMS.  67 

they  have  no  knowledge  :  and  their  honour- 
able men  are  famished,  and  their  multitude 
dried  up  with  thirst.  Therefore  hell  hath 
enlarged  herself,  and  opened  her  mouth 
without  measure  :  and  their  glory,  and  their 
multitude,  and  their  pomp,  and  he  that  re- 
joiceth,  shall  descend  into  it.  And  the  mean 
man  shall  be  brought  down,  and  the  mighty 
man  shall  be  humbled,  and  the  eyes  of  the 
lofty  shall  be  humbled  :  but  the  Lord  of 
hosts  shall  be  exalted  in  judgment,  and  God 
that  is  holy  shall  be  sanctified  in  righteous- 
ness. Then  shall  the  lambs  feed  after  their 
manner,  and  the  waste  places  of  the  fat  ones 
shall  strangers  eat.  Woe  unto  them  that 
draw  iniquity  with  cords  of  vanity,  and  sin 
as  it  were  with  a  cart  rope  :  that  say,  Let 
him  make  speed,  and  hasten  his  work,  that 
we  may  see  it  :  and  let  the  counsel  of  the 
Holy  One  of  Israel  draw  nigh  and  come,  that 
we  may  know  it  !  Woe  unto  them  that  call 
evil  good,  and  good  evil  ;  that  put  darkness 
for  light,  and  light  for  darkness  ;  that  put 
bitter  for  sweet,  and  sweet  for  bitter  !  Woe 
unto  them  that  are  wise  in  their  own  eyes, 
and  prudent  in  their  own  sight  !  Woe  unto 
them  that  are  mighty  to  drink  wine,  and 
men  of  strength  to  mingle  strong  drink  : 
which  justify  the  wicked  for  reward,  and 
take  away  the  righteousness  of  the  righteous 
from  him  !  Therefore  as  the  fire  devoureth 
the  stubble,  and  the  flame  consumeth  the 
chaff,  so  their  root  shall  be  as  rottenness, 


68  BIBLE  GEMS. 

and  their  blossom  shall  go  up  as  dust :  be- 
cause they  have  cast  away  the  law  of  the 
Lord  of  hosts,  and  despised  the  word  of  the 
Holy  One  of  Israel.  Therefore  is  the  anger 
of  the  Lord  kindled  against  his  people,  and 
he  hath  stretched  forth  his  hand  against 
them,  and  hath  smitten  them  :  and  the  hills 
did  tremble,  and  their  carcasses  were  torn  in 
the  midst  of  the  streets.  For  all  this  his 
anger  is  not  turned  away,  but  his  hand  is 
stretched  out  still. — Isa.  v.  1-25. 

Folly  of  Trusting  in  Egypt.  Woe  to  them 
that  go  down  to  Egypt  for  help  ;  and  stay 
on  horses,  and  trust  in  chariots,  because  they 
are  many ;  and  in  horsemen,  because  they 
are  very  strong  ;  but  they  look  not  unto  the 
Holy  One  of  Israel,  neither  seek  the  Lord  ! 
Yet  he  also  is  wise,  and  will  bring  evil, 
and  will  not  call  back  his  words  :  but  will 
arise  against  the  house  of  the  evil  doers,  and 
against  the  help  of  them  that  work  iniquity. 
Now  the  Egyptians  are  men,  and  not  God  ; 
and  their  horses  flesh,  and  not  spirit.  When 
the  Lord  shall  stretch  out  his  hand,  both  he 
that  helpeth  shall  fall,  and  he  that  is  holpen 
shall  fall  down,  and  they  all  shall  fail  to- 
gether.— Isa.  xxxi.  1-3. 

Curse  on  Ephraim's  Pride  and  Drunken- 
ness. Woe  to  the  crown  of  pride,  to  the 
drunkards  of  Ephraim,  whose  glorious  beauty 
is  a  fading  flower,  which  are  on  the  head  of 
the  fat  valleys  of  them  that  are  overcome 


BIBLE  GEMS.  69 

with  wine  !  Behold,  the  Lord  hath  a  mighty 
and  strong  one,  which  as  a  tempest  of  hail 
and  a  destroying  storm,  as  a  flood  of  mighty 
waters  overflowing,  shall  cast  down  to  the 
earth  with  the  hand.  The  crown  of  pride, 
the  drunkards  of  Kphraim,  shall  be  trodden 
under  feet :  and  the  glorious  beauty,  which 
is  on  the  head  of  the  fat  valley,  shall  be  a 
fading  flower,  and  as  the  hasty  fruit  before 
the  summer  ;  which  when  he  that  looketh 
upon  it  seeth,  while  it  is  yet  in  his  hand  he 
eateth  it  up.  In  that  day  shall  the  Lord  of 
hosts  be  for  a  crown  of  glory,  and  for  a  dia- 
dem of  beauty,  unto  the  residue  of  his  peo- 
ple, and  for  a  spirit  of  judgment  to  him  that 
sitteth  in  judgment,  and  for  strength  to  them 
that  turn  the  battle  to  the  gate.  But  they 
also  have  erred  through  wine,  and  through 
strong  drink  are  out  of  the  way  ;  the  priest 
and  the  prophet  have  erred  through  strong 
drink,  they  are  swallowed  up  of  wine,  they 
are  out  of  the  way  through  strong  drink  ; 
they  err  in  vision,  they  stumble  in  judgment. 
For  all  tables  are  full  of  vomit  and  filthiness, 
so  that  there  is  no  place  clean. — Isa.  xxviii. 
1-8. 

Woes  of  Divers  Sins.  I  will  stand  upon 
my  watch,  and  set  me  upon  the  tower,  and 
will  watch  to  see  what  he  will  say  unto  me, 
and  what  I  shall  answer  when  I  am  reproved. 
And  the  Lord  answered  me,  and  said,  Write 
the  vision,  and  make  it  plain  upon  tables, 


70  BIBLE  GEMS. 

that  he  may  run  that  readeth  it.  For  the 
vision  is  yet  for  an  appointed  time,  but  at 
the  end  it  shall  speak,  and  not  lie  :  though 
it  tarry,  wait  for  it  ;  because  it  will  surely 
come,  it  will  not  tarry.  Behold,  his  soul 
which  is  lifted  up  is  not  upright  iu  him  :  but 
the  just  shall  live  by  his  faith.  Yea  also,  be- 
cause he  transgresseth  by  wine,  he  is  a  proud 
man,  neither  keepeth  at  home,  who  enlargeth 
his  desire  as  hell,  and  is  as  death,  and  cannot 
be  satisfied,  but  gathereth  unto  him  all  na- 
tions, and  heapeth  unto  him  all  people  :  shall 
not  all  these  take  up  a  parable  against  him, 
and  a  taunting  proverb  against  him,  and  say, 
Woe  to  him  that  increaseth  that  which  is  not 
his  !  how  long  ?  and  to  him  that  ladeth  him- 
self with  thick  clay  !  Shall  they  not  rise  up 
suddenly  that  shall  bite  thee,  and  awake  that 
shall  vex  thee,  and  thou  shalt  be  for  booties 
unto  them  ?  Because  thou  hast  spoiled  many 
nations,  all  the  remnant  of  the  people  shall 
spoil  thee  ;  because  of  men's  blood,  and  for 
the  violence  of  the  land,  of  the  city,  and  of 
all  that  dwell  therein.  Woe  to  him  that 
coveteth  an  evil  covetousness  to  his  house, 
that  he  may  set  his  nest  on  high,  that  he 
may  be  delivered  from  the  power  of  evil  ! 
Thou  hast  consulted  shame  to  thy  house  by 
cutting  off  many  people,  and  hast  sinned 
against  thy  soul.  For  the  stone  shall  cry 
out  of  the  wall,  and  the  beam  out  of  the  tim- 
ber shall  answer  it.  Woe  to  him  that  build- 
eth  a  town  with  blood,  and  establisheth  a 


BIBLE  GEMS.  71 

city  by  iniquity  !  Behold,  is  it  not  of  the 
Lord  of  hosts  that  the  people  shall  labour  in 
the  very  fire,  and  the  people  shall  weary 
themselves  for  very  vanity  ?  For  the  earth 
shall  be  filled  with  the  knowledge  of  the 
glory  of  the  Lord,  as  the  waters  cover  the 
sea.  Woe  unto  him  that  giveth  his  neigh- 
bour drink,  that  puttest  thy  bottle  to  him, 
and  makest  him  drunken  also,  that  thou 
mayest  look  on  their  nakedness  !  Thou  art 
filled  with  shame  for  glory  :  drink  thou  also, 
and  let  thy  foreskin  be  uncovered  :  the  cup 
of  the  Lord's  right  hand  shall  be  turned  unto 
thee,  and  shameful  spewing  shall  be  on  thy 
glory.  For  the  violence  of  Lebanon  shall 
cover  thee,  and  the  spoil  of  beasts,  which 
made  them  afraid,  because  of  men's  blood, 
and  for  the  violence  of  the  land,  of  the 
city,  and  of  all  that  dwell  therein.  What 
profiteth  the  graven  image  that  the  maker 
thereof  hath  graven  it ;  the  molten  image, 
and  a  teacher  of  lies,  that  the  maker  of  his 
work  trusteth  therein,  to  make  dumb  idols? 
Woe  unto  him  that  saith  to  the  wood,  Awake  ; 
to  the  dumb  stone,  Arise,  it  shall  teach  !  Be- 
hold, it  is  laid  over  with  gold  and  silver,  and 
there  is  no  breath  at  all  in  the  midst  of  it. 
But  the  Lord  is  in  his  holy  temple  :  let  all 
the  earth  keep  silence  before  him. — Hab. 
ii.  1-20. 

Woes  of  Blind  Guides  and  False  Teach- 
ers.    But  woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Phari- 


72  BIBLE  GEMS. 

sees,  hypocrites  !  for  ye  shut  up  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  against  men  :  for  ye  neither  go  in 
yourselves,  neither  suffer  ye  them  that  are 
entering  to  go  in.  Woe  unto  you,  scribes 
and  Pharisees,  hypocrites !  for  ye  devour 
widows'  houses,  and  for  a  pretence  make 
long  prayer  :  therefore  ye  shall  receive  the 
greater  damnation.  Woe  unto  you,  scribes 
and  Pharisees,  hypocrites !  for  ye  compass 
sea  and  land  to  make  one  proselyte  ;  and 
when  he  is  made,  ye  make  him  twofold  more 
the  child  of  hell  than  yourselves.  Woe  unto 
you,  ye  blind  guides,  which  say,  Whosoever 
shall  swear  by  the  temple,  it  is  nothing  ;  but 
whosoever  shall  swear  by  the  gold  of  the 
temple,  he  is  a  debtor !  Ye  fools  and  blind  : 
for  whether  is  greater,  the  gold,  or  the  tem- 
ple that  sanctifieth  the  gold?  And,  Whoso- 
ever shall  swear  by  the  altar,  it  is  nothing  ; 
but  whosoever  sweareth  by  the  gift  that  is 
upon  it,  he  is  guilty.  Ye  fools  and  blind  : 
for  whether  is  greater,  the  gift,  or  the  altar 
that  sanctifieth  the  gift?  Whoso  therefore 
shall  swear  by  the  altar,  sweareth  by  it,  and 
by  all  things  thereon.  And  whoso  shall 
swear  by  the  temple,  sweareth  by  it,  and  by 
him  that  dwelleth  therein.  And  he  that 
shall  swear  by  heaven,  sweareth  by  the 
throne  of  God,  and  by  him  that  sitteth  there- 
on. Woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Pharisees, 
hypocrites !  for  ye  pay  tithe  of  mint  and  anise 
and  cummin,  and  have  omitted  the  weight- 
ier matters  of  the  law,  judgment,  mercy,  and 


BIBLE  GEMS.  73 

faith  :  these  ought  ye  to  have  done,  and  not 
to  leave  the  other  undone.  Ye  blind  guides, 
which  strain  at  a  gnat,  and  swallow  a  camel. 
Woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypo- 
crites !  for  ye  make  clean  the  outside  of  the 
cup  and  of  the  platter,  but  within  they  are 
full  of  extortion  and  excess.  Thou  blind 
Pharisee,  cleanse  first  that  which  is  within 
the  cup  and  platter,  that  the  outside  of  them 
may  be  clean  also.  Woe  unto  you,  scribes 
and  Pharisees,  hypocrites  !  for  ye  are  like 
unto  whited  sepulchres,  which  indeed  appear 
beautiful  outward,  but  are  within  full  of  dead 
men's  bones,  and  of  all  uncleanness.  Even 
so  ye  also  outwardly  appear  righteous  unto 
men,  but  within  ye  are  full  of  hypocrisy  and 
iniquity.  Woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Phari- 
sees, hypocrites  !  because  ye  build  the  tombs 
of  the  prophets,  and  garnish  the  sepulchres 
of  the  righteous,  and  say,  If  we  had  been  in 
the  days  of  our  fathers,  we  would  not  have 
been  partakers  with  them  in  the  blood  of  the 
prophets.  Wherefore  ye  be  witnesses  unto 
yourselves,  that  ye  are  the  children  of  them 
which  killed  the  prophets.  Fill  ye  up  then 
the  measure  of  your  fathers.  Ye  serpents, 
ye  generation  of  vipers,  how  can  ye  escape 
the  damnation  of  hell? — Matt,  xxiii.  13-33. 

Final  Woe.  Then  shall  he  say  also  unto 
them  on  the  left  hand,  Depart  from  me,  ye 
cursed,  into  everlasting  fire,  prepared  for  the 
devil  and  his  angels  :  for  I  was  a  hungered, 


74  BIBLE  GEMS. 

and  ye  gave  ine  no  meat :  I  was  thirsty,  and 
ye  gave  me  no  drink  :  I  was  a  stranger, 
and  ye  took  me  not  in  :  naked,  and  ye 
clothed  me  not  :  sick,  and  in  prison,  and  ye 
visited  me  not.  Then  shall  they  also  answer 
him,  saying,  Lord,  when  saw  we  thee  a  hun- 
gered, or  athirst,  or  a  stranger,  or  naked,  or 
sick,  or  in  prison,  and  did  not  minister  unto 
thee  ?  Then  shall  he  answer  them,  saying, 
Verily  I  say  unto  you,  Inasmuch  as  ye  did  it 
not  to  one  of  the  least  of  these,  ye  did  it  not 
to  me.  And  these  shall  go  away  into  ever- 
lasting punishment  :  but  the  righteous  into 
life  eternal. — MATT.  xxv.  41-46. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  SOUI/S  SECURITY  IN  GOD. 

The  Trusting  Soul's  Fortress.  God  is 
our  refuge  and  strength,  a  very  present  help 
in  trouble.  Therefore  will  not  we  fear, 
though  the  earth  be  removed,  and  though 
the  mountains  be  carried  into  the  midst  of  the 
sea ;  though  the  waters  thereof  roar  and  be 
troubled,  though  the  mountains  shake  with 
the  swelling  thereof.  There  is  a  river,  the 
streams  whereof  shall  make  glad  the  city  of 
God,  the  holy  place  of  the  tabernacles  of  the 
Most  High.  God  is  in  the  midst  of  her ;  she 
shall  not  be  moved  :  God  shall  help  her,  and 
that  right  early.  The  heathen  raged,  the 
kingdoms  were  moved  :  he  uttered  his  voice, 
the  earth  melted.  The  Lord  of  hosts  is  with 
us  ;  the  God  of  Jacob  is  our  refuge.  Come, 
behold  the  works  of  the  Lord,  what  desola- 
tions he  hath  made  in  the  earth.  He  maketh 
wars  to  cease  unto  the  end  of  the  earth  ;  he 
breaketh  the  bow,  and  cutteth  the  spear  in 
sunder  ;  he  burneth  the  chariot  in  the  fire. 
Be  still,  and  know  that  I  am  God  :  I  will  be 
exalted  among  the  heathen,  I  will  be  exalted 
in  the  earth.  The  Lord  of  hosts  is  with  us  ; 
the  God  of  Jacob  is  our  refuge. — PS.  xlvi. 
i-il. 

(75) 


76  BIBLE  GEMS. 

Happy  State  of  the  Godly.  He  that 
dwelleth  in  the  secret  place  of  the  Most 
High  shall  abide  under  the  shadow  of  the 
Almighty.  I  will  say  of  the  Lord,  He  is  my 
refuge  and  my  fortress  :  my  God  ;  in  him 
will  I  trust.  Surely  he  shall  deliver  thee 
from  the  snare  of  the  fowler,  and  from  the 
noisome  pestilence.  He  shall  cover  thee  with 
his  feathers,  and  under  his  wings  shalt  thou 
trust  :  his  truth  shall  be  thy  shield  and  buck- 
ler. Thou  shalt  not  be  afraid  for  the  terror 
by  night  ;  nor  for  the  arrow  that  flieth  by 
day  ;  nor  for  the  pestilence  that  walketh  in 
darkness  ;  nor  for  the  destruction  that  wast- 
eth  at  noonday.  A  thousand  shall  fall  at  thy 
side,  and  ten  thousand  at  thy  right  hand  ; 
but  it  shall  not  come  nigh  thee.  Only  with 
thine  eyes  shalt  thou  behold  and  see  the  re- 
ward of  the  wicked.  Because  thou  hast  made 
the  Lord,  which  is  my  refuge,  even  the  Most 
High,  thy  habitation  ;  there  shall  no  evil  be- 
fall thee,  neither  shall  any  plague  come  nigh 
thy  dwelling.  For  he  shall  give  his  angels 
charge  over  thee,  to  keep  thee  in  all  thy 
ways.  They  shall  bear  thee  up  in  their  hands, 
lest  thou  dash  thy  foot  against  a  stone.  Thou 
shalt  tread  upon  the  lion  and  adder  :  the 
young  lion  and  the  dragon  shalt  thou  tram- 
ple under  feet.  Because  he  hath  set  his  love 
upon  me,  therefore  will  I  deliver  him  :  I  will 
set  him  on  high,  because  he  hath  known  my 
name.  He  shall  call  upon  me,  and  I  will 
answer  him  :  I  will  be  with  him  in  trouble  ; 


BIBLE  GEMS.  77 

I  will  deliver  him,  and  honour  him.  With 
long  life  will  I  satisfy  him,  and  shew  him 
my  salvation. — Ps.  xci.  1-16. 

Safety  of  Those  Seeking  God's  Help.  I 
will  lift  up  mine  eyes  unto  the  hills,  from 
whence  cometh  my  help.  My  help  cometh 
from  the  Lord,  which  made  heaven  and 
earth.  He  will  not  suffer  thy  foot  to  be 
moved  :  he  that  keepeth  thee  will  not  slum- 
ber. Behold,  he  that  keepeth  Israel  shall 
neither  slumber  nor  sleep.  The  Lord  is  thy 
keeper  :  the  Lord  is  thy  shade  upon  thy 
right  hand.  The  sun  shall  not  smite  thee  by 
day,  nor  the  moon  by  night.  The  Lord  shall 
preserve  thee  from  all  evil  :  he  shall  preserve 
thy  soul.  The  Lord  shall  preserve  thy  going 
out  and  thy  coming  in  from  this  time  forth, 
and  even  for  evermore. — Ps.  cxxi.  1-8.  (See, 
also,  Psalms  xi.,  xx.,  xxiii.,  xxv.,  xxvii., 
xxxi.,  xxxiv.,  etc.) 

The  Believer's  Safety  in  Christ.  (See 
John,  chapters  xiv.  to  xvi. ) 


CHAPTER  VI. 

FINK   DESCRIPTIONS. 

Of  Creation.     (See   GENESIS,  chapters   i. 
and  ii. 

The  Fall  of  Jericho.     (See  Joshua,  chap- 
ter vi.) 

Translation  of  Elijah.  And  it  came  to 
pass,  when  the  Lord  would  take  up  Elijah 
into  heaven  by  a  whirlwind,  that  Elijah 
went  with  Elisha  from  Gilgal.  And  Elijah 
said  unto  Elisha,  Tarry  here,  I  pray  thee  ; 
for  the  Lord  hath  sent  me  to  Beth-el.  And 
Elisha  said  unto  him,  As  the  Lord  liveth, 
and  as  thy  soul  liveth,  I  will  not  leave  thee. 
So  they  went  down  to  Beth-el.  And  the  sons 
of  the  prophets  that  were  at  Beth-el  came 
forth  to  Elisha,  and  said  unto  him,  Know- 
est  thou  that  the  Lord  will  take  away  thy 
master  from  thy  head  to  day  ?  And  he  said, 
Yea,  I  know  it ;  hold  ye  your  peace.  And 
Elijah  said  unto  him,  Elisha,  Tarry  here, 
I  pray  thee  ;  for  the  Lord  hath  sent  me  to 
Jericho.  And  he  said,  As  the  Lord  liveth,  and 
as  thy  soul  liveth,  I  will  not  leave  thee.  So 
they  came  to  Jericho.  And  the  sons  of  the 
prophets  that  were  at  Jericho  came  to  Elisha, 
(78) 


BIBLE  GEMS.  79 

and  said  unto  him,  Knowest  thou  that  the 
Lord  will  take  away  thy  master  from  thy 
head  to  day  ?  And  he  answered,  Yea,  I 
know  it ;  hold  ye  your  peace.  And  Elijah 
said  unto  him,  Tarry,  I  pray  thee,  here  ;  for 
the  Lord  hath  sent  me  to  Jordan.  And  he 
said,  As  the  Lord  liveth,  and  as  thy  soul 
liveth,  I  will  not  leave  thee.  And  they  two 
went  on.  And  fifty  men  of  the  sons  of  the 
prophets  went,  and  stood  to  view  afar  off  :  and 
they  two  stood  by  Jordan.  And  Elijah  took 
his  mantle,  and  wrapped  it  together,  and 
smote  the  waters,  and  they  were  divided 
hither  and  thither,  so  that  they  two  went  over 
on  dry  ground.  And  it  came  to  pass,  when 
they  were  gone  over,  that  Elijah  said  unto 
Elisha,  Ask  what  I  shall  do  for  thee,  before  I 
be  taken  away  from  thee.  And  Elisha  said,  I 
pray  thee,  let  a  double  portion  of  thy  spirit 
be  upon  me.  And  he  said,  Thou  hast  asked 
a  hard  thing  :  nevertheless,  if  thou  see  me 
when  I  am  taken  from  thee,  it  shall  be  so 
unto  thee  ;  but  if  not,  it  shall  not  be  so.  And 
it  came  to  pass,  as  they  still  went  on,  and 
talked,  that,  behold,  there  appeared  a  chariot 
of  fire,  and  horses  of  fire,  and  parted  them 
both  asunder  ;  and  Elijah  went  up  by  a 
whirlwind  into  heaven.  And  Elisha  saw  it, 
and  he  cried,  My  father,  my  father,  the 
chariot  of  Israel,  and  the  horsemen  thereof  ! 
And  he  saw  him  no  more  :  and  he  took  hold 
of  his  own  clothes,  and  rent  them  in  two 
pieces. — 2  Kings  ii.  1-12. 


80  BIBLE  GEMS. 

Nebuchadnezzar's  Dream  Interpreted. 
(See  Dan.,  chapters  ii.  to  iv.) 

Belshazzar's  Feast.  (See  Daniei,,  chap- 
ter v. ) 

For  Fine  Word  Pictures.  (See  Book  of 
Job,  especially  chapters  xxxviii.  to  xlii.) 

God's  Glory  in  His  Works.  O  Lord  our 
Lord,  how  excellent  is  thy  name  in  all  the 
earth  !  who  hast  set  thy  glory  above  the 
heavens.  Out  of  the  mouth  of  babes  and 
sucklings  hast  thou  ordained  strength  be- 
cause of  thine  enemies,  that  thou  mightest 
still  the  enemy  and  the  avenger.  When  I 
consider  thy  heavens,  the  work  of  thy  fin- 
gers, the  moon  and  the  stars,  which  thou  hast 
ordained  ;  what  is  man,  that  thou  art  mindful 
of  him  ?  and  the  son  of  man,  that  thou  visit- 
est  him  ?  For  thou  hast  made  him  a  little 
lower  than  the  angels,  and  hast  crowned  him 
with  glory  and  honour.  Thou  madest  him 
to  have  dominion  over  the  works  of  thy 
hands  ;  thou  hast  put  all  things  under  his 
feet  :  all  sheep  and  oxen,  yea,  and  the  beasts 
of  the  field  ;  the  fowl  of  the  air,  and  the  fish 
of  the  sea,  and  whatsoever  passeth  through 
the  paths  of  the  seas.  O  Lord  our  Lord, 
how  excellent  is  thy  name  in  all  the  earth  ! 

The  heavens  declare  the  glory  of  God  ;  and 
the  firmament  sheweth  hishandywork.  Day 
unto  day  uttereth   speech,  and   night   unto 


BIBLE  GEMS.  81 

night  sheweth  knowledge.  There  is  no 
speech  nor  language,  where  their  voice  is 
not  heard.  Their  line  is  gone  out  through 
all  the  earth,  and  their  words  to  the  end  of 
the  world.  In  them  hath  be  set  a  tabernacle 
for  the  sun,  which  is  as  a  bridegroom  com- 
ing out  of  his  chamber,  and  rejoiceth  as  a 
strong  man  to  run  a  race.  His  going  forth 
is  from  the  end  of  the  heaven,  and  his  circuit 
unto  the  ends  of  it  :  and  there  is  nothing 
hid  from  the  heat  thereof. 

Praise  waiteth  for  thee,  O  God,  in  Zion  : 
and  unto  thee  shall  the  vow  be  performed. 
O  thou  that  hearest  prayer,  unto  thee  shall 
all  flesh  come.  Iniquities  prevail  against 
me  :  as  for  our  transgressions,  thou  shalt 
purge  them  away.  Blessed  is  the  man  whom 
thou  choosest,  and  causest  to  approach  unto 
thee,  that  he  may  dwell  in  thy  courts  :  we 
shall  be  satisfied  with  the  goodness  of  thy 
house,  even  of  thy  holy  temple.  By  terrible 
things  in  righteousness  wilt  thou  answer  us, 
O  God  of  our  salvation  ;  who  art  the  confi- 
dence of  all  the  ends  of  the  earth,  and  of 
them  that  are  afar  off  upon  the  sea  :  which 
by  his  strength  setteth  fast  the  mountains  ; 
being  girded  with  power  :  which  stilleth  the 
noise  of  the  seas,  the  noise  of  their  waves, 
and  the  tumult  of  the  people.  They  also 
that  dwell  in  the  uttermost  parts  are  afraid 
at  thy  tokens  :  thou  makest  the  outgoings  of 
the  morning  and  evening  to  rejoice.  Thou 
visitest    the   earth,  "and    waterest    it  :    thou 


82  BIBLE  GEMS. 

greatly  enrichest  it  with  the  river  of  God, 
which  is  full  of  water  :  thou  preparest  thetn 
corn,  when  thou  hast  so  provided  for  it. 
Thou  waterest  the  ridges  thereof  abundantly: 
thou  settlest  the  furrows  thereof:  thou  mak- 
est  it  soft  with  showers  :  thou  blessest  the 
springing  thereof.  Thou  crownest  the  year 
with  thy  goodness  ;  and  thy  paths  drop  fat- 
ness. They  drop  upon  the  pastures  of  the 
wilderness  :  and  the  little  hills  rejoice  on 
every  side.  The  pastures  are  clothed  with 
flocks  ;  the  valleys  also  are  covered  over 
with  corn  ;  they  shout  for  joy,  they  also 
sing. 

Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul.  O  Lord  my 
God,  thou  art  very  great  ;  thou  art  clothed 
with  honour  and  majesty  :  who  coverest  thy- 
self with  light  as  with  a  garment  :  who 
stretchest  out  the  heavens  like  a  curtain  : 
who  layeth  the  beams  of  his  chambers  in  the 
waters  :  who  maketh  the  clouds  his  chariot : 
who  walketh  upon  the  wings  of  the  wind  : 
who  maketh  his  angels  spirits  ;  his  ministers 
a  flaming  fire  :  who  laid  the  foundations  of 
the  earth,  that  it  should  not  be  removed  for 
ever.  Thou  coveredst  it  wTith  the  deep  as 
with  a  garment :  the  waters  stood  above  the 
mountains.  At  thy  rebuke  they  fled  ;  at  the 
voice  of  thy  thunder  they  hasted  away. 
They  go  up  by  the  mountains  ;  they  go  down 
by  the  valleys  unto  the  place  which  thou 
hast  founded  for  them.  Thou  hast  set  a 
bound  that   they   may  not  pass  over ;   that 


BIBLE  GEMS.  83 

they  turn  not  again  to  cover  the  earth.  He 
sendeth  the  springs  into  the  valleys,  which 
run  among  the  hills.  They  give  drink  to 
every  beast  of  the  field  :  the  wild  asses 
quench  their  thirst.  By  them  shall  the  fowls 
of  the  heaven  have  their  habitation,  which 
sing  among  the  branches.  He  watereth  the 
hills  from  his  chambers  :  the  earth  is  satisfied 
with  the  fruit  of  thy  works.  He  causeth  the 
grass  to  grow  for  the  cattle,  and  herb  for  the 
service  of  man  :  that  he  may  bring  forth 
food  out  of  the  earth  ;  and  wine  that  mak- 
eth  glad  the  heart  of  man,  and  oil  to  make 
his  face  to  shine,  and  bread  which  strength- 
ened man's  heart.  The  trees  of  the  Lord 
are  full  of  sap ;  the  cedars  of  Lebanon, 
which  he  hath  planted  ;  where  the  birds 
make  their  nests  :  as  for  the  stork,  the  fir 
trees  are  her  house.  The  high  hills  are  a 
refuge  for  the  wild  goats  ;  and  the  rocks  for 
the  conies.  He  appointed  the  moon  for  sea- 
sons :  the  sun  knoweth  his  going  down. 
Thou  makest  darkness,  and  it  is  night : 
wherein  all  the  beasts  of  the  forest  do  creep 
forth.  The  young  lions  roar  after  their  prey, 
and  seek  their  meat  from  God.  The  sun 
ariseth,  they  gather  themselves  together, 
and  lay  them  down  in  their  dens.  Man  goeth 
forth  unto  his  work  and  to  his  labour  until 
the  evening.  O  Lord,  how  manifold  are  thy 
works  !  in  wisdom  hast  thou  made  them  all  : 
the  earth  is  full  of  thy  riches.  So  is  this 
great  and  wide  sea,  wherein  are  things  creep- 


84  BIBLE  GEMS. 

ing  innumerable,  both  small  and  great 
beasts.  There  go  the  ships  :  there  is  that 
leviathan,  whom  thou  hast  made  to  play 
therein.  These  wait  all  upon  thee  ;  that  thou 
may  est  give  them  their  meat  in  due  season. 
That  thou  givest  them  they  gather  :  thou 
openest  thine  hand,  they  are  filled  with 
good.  Thou  hidest  thy  face,  they  are  trou- 
bled :  thou  takest  away  their  breath,  they 
die,  and  return  to  their  dust.  Thou  sendest 
forth  thy  spirit,  they  are  created  :  and  thou 
renewest  the  face  of  the  earth.  The  glory 
of  the  Lord  shall  endure  for  ever  :  the  Lord 
shall  rejoice  in  his  works.  He  looketh  on  the 
earth,  and  it  trembleth  :  he  toucheth  the 
hills,  and  they  smoke.  I  will  sing  unto  the 
Lord  as  long  as  I  live  :  I  will  sing  praise  to 
my  God  while  I  have  my  being.  My  medi- 
tation of  him  shall  be  sweet :  I  will  be  glad 
in  the  Lord.  Let  the  sinners  be  consumed 
out  of  the  earth,  and  let  the  wicked  be  no 
more.  Bless  thou  the  Lord,  O  my  soul. 
Praise  ye  the  Lord.—  PS.  viii.  1-9 ;  xix.  1-6  ; 
lxv.  1-13  ;  civ.  1-35. 

Prospective  View  of  Christ's  Kingdom. 
The  wilderness  and  the  solitary  place  shall 
be  glad  for  them  ;  and  the  desert  shall  re- 
joice, and  blossom  as  the  rose.  It  shall  blos- 
som abundantly,  and  rejoice  even  with  joy 
and  singing  :  the  glory  of  Lebanon  shall  be 
given  unto  it,  the  excellency  of  Carmel  and 
Sharon  ;  they  shall  see  the  glory  of  the  Lord, 


BIBLE  GEMS.  85 

and  the  excellency  of  our  God.  Strengthen 
ye  the  weak  hands,  and  confirm  the  feeble 
knees.  Say  to  them  that  are  of  a  fearful 
heart,  Be  strong,  fear  not :  behold,  your  God 
will  come  with  vengeance,  even  God  with  a 
recompense  ;  he  will  come  and  save  you. 
Then  the  eyes  of  the  blind  shall  be  opened, 
and  the  ears  of  the  deaf  shall  be  unstopped. 
Then  shall  the  lame  man  leap  as  a  hart,  and 
the  tongue  of  the  dumb  sing  :  for  in  the  wil- 
derness shall  waters  break  out,  and  streams 
in  the  desert.  And  the  parched  ground  shall 
become  a  pool,  and  the  thirsty  land  springs 
of  water :  in  the  habitation  of  dragons, 
where  each  lay,  shall  be  grass  with  reeds  and 
rushes.  And  a  highway  shall  be  there,  and 
a  way,  and  it  shall  be  called  The  way  of  holi- 
ness ;  the  unclean  shall  not  pass  over  it ;  but 
it  shall  be  for  those  :  the  wayfaring  men, 
though  fools,  shall  not  err  therein.  No  lion 
shall  be  there,  nor  any  ravenous  beast  shall 
go  up  thereon,  it  shall  not  be  found  there  ; 
but  the  redeemed  shall  walk  there  :  and  the 
ransomed  of  the  Lord  shall  return,  and  come 
to  Zion  with  songs  and  everlasting  joy  upon 
their  heads  :  they  shall  obtain  joy  and  glad- 
ness, and  sorrow  and  sighing  shall  flee  away. 
— ISA.  xxxv.  I-IO. 

Prospective  View  of  Christ's  Sufferings. 
Who  hath  believed  our  report  ?  and  to  whom 
is  the  arm  of  the  Lord  revealed?  For  he 
shall  grow  up  before  him  as  a  tender  plant, 


86  BIBLE  GEMS. 

and  as  a  root  out  of  a  dry  ground  :  he  hath 
no  form  nor  comeliness  ;  and  when  we  shall 
see  him,  there  is  no  beauty  that  we  should 
desire  him.  He  is  despised  and  rejected  of 
men  ;  a  man  of  sorrows,  and  acquainted  with 
grief  :  and  we  hid  as  it  were  our  faces  from 
him  ;  he  was  despised,  and  we  esteemed  him 
not.  Surely  he  hath  borne  our  griefs,  and 
carried  our  sorrows  :  yet  we  did  esteem  him 
stricken,  smitten  of  God,  and  afflicted.  But 
he  was  wounded  for  our  transgressions,  he 
was  bruised  for  our  iniquities  :  the  chastise- 
ment of  our  peace  was  upon  him  ;  and  with 
his  stripes  we  are  healed.  All  we  like  sheep 
have  gone  astray  ;  we  have  turned  every  one 
to  his  own  way  ;  and  the  Lord  hath  laid  on 
him  the  iniquity  of  us  all.  lie  was  oppressed, 
and  he  was  afflicted,  yet  he  opened  not  his 
mouth  :  he  is  brought  as  a  lamb  to  the 
slaughter,  and  as  a  sheep  before  her  shearers 
is  dumb,  so  he  openeth  not  his  mouth.  He 
was  taken  from  prison  and  from  judgment  : 
and  who  shall  declare  his  generation  ?  for  he 
was  cut  off  out  of  the  land  of  the  living  :  for 
the  transgression  of  my  people  was  he 
stricken.  And  he  made  his  grave  with  the 
wicked,  and  with  the  rich  in  his  death  ;  be- 
cause he  had  done  no  violence,  neither  was 
any  deceit  in  his  mouth.  Yet  it  pleased  the 
Lord  to  bruise  him  ;  he  hath  put  him  to  grief  : 
when  thou  shalt  make  his  soul  an  offering  for 
sin,  he  shall  see  his  seed,  he  shall  prolong  his 
days,  and  the  pleasure  of  the  Lord  shall  pros- 


BIBLE  GEMS.  87 

per  in  his  hand.  He  shall  see  of  the  travail  of 
his  soul,  and  shall  be  satisfied  :  by  his  knowl- 
edge shall  my  righteous  servant  justify 
many  ;  for  he  shall  bear  their  iniquities. 
Therefore  will  I  divide  him  a  portion  with 
the  great,  and  he  shall  divide  the  spoil  with 
the  strong  ;  because  he  hath  poured  out  his 
soul  unto  death  :  and  he  was  numbered  with 
the  transgressors  ;  and  he  bare  the  sin  of 
many,  and  made  intercession  for  the  trans- 
gressors.— ISA.  liii.  1-12. 

The  Birth  of  Christ.  And  there  were  in  the 
same  country  shepherds  abiding  in  the  field, 
keeping  watch  over  their  flock  by  night. 
And,  lo,  the  angel  of  the  Lord  came  upon 
them,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  shone  round 
about  them ;  and  they  were  sore  afraid. 
And  the  angel  said  unto  them,  Fear  not :  for, 
behold,  I  bring  you  good  tidings  of  great 
joy,  which  shall  be  to  all  people.  For  unto 
you  is  born  this  day  in  the  city  of  David  a 
Saviour,  which  is  Christ  the  Lord.  And  this 
shall  be  a  sign  unto  you  ;  Ye  shall  find  the 
babe  wrapped  in  swaddling  clothes,  lying  in 
a  manger.  And  suddenly  there  was  with  the 
angel  a  multitude  of  the  heavenly  host 
praising  God,  and  saying,  Glory  to  God  in 
the  highest,  and  on  earth  peace,  good  will 
toward  men.  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  the 
angels  were  gone  away  from  them  into 
heaven,  the  shepherds  said  one  to  another, 
Let  us  now  go  even  unto  Bethlehem,  and  see 


88  BIBLE  GEMS. 

this  thing  which  is  come  to  pass,  which  the 
Lord  hath  made  known  unto  us.  And  they 
came  with  haste,  and  found  Mary  and  Joseph, 
and  the  babe  lying  in  a  manger.  And  when 
they  had  seen  it,  they  made  known  abroad 
the  saying  which  was  told  them  concerning 
this  child.  And  all  they  that  heard  it  won- 
dered at  those  things  which  were  told  them 
by  the  shepherds.  But  Mary  kept  all  these 
things,  and  pondered  them  in  her  heart.  And 
the  shepherds  returned,  glorifying  and  prais- 
ing God  for  all  the  things  that  they  had 
heard  and  seen,  as  it  was  told  unto  them. — 
Luke  ii.  8-20. 

The  Baptism  of  Christ.  Then  cometh 
Jesus  from  Galilee  to  Jordan  unto  John,  to 
be  baptized  of  him.  But  John  forbade  him, 
saying,  I  have  need  to  be  baptized  of  thee, 
and  comest  thou  to  me  ?  And  Jesus  answer- 
ing said  unto  him,  Suffer  it  to  be  so  now  : 
for  thus  it  becometh  us  to  fulfil  all  righteous- 
ness. Then  he  suffered  him.  And  Jesus, 
when  he  was  baptized,  went  up  straightway 
out  of  the  water :  and,  lo,  the  heavens  were 
opened  unto  him,  and  he  saw  the  Spirit  of 
God  descending  like  a  dove,  and  lighting 
upon  him  :  and  lo  a  voice  from  heaven,  say- 
ing, This  is  my  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am 
well  pleased. — MaTT.  iii.  13-17. 

The  Temptation  of  Christ.  And  Jesus  be- 
ing full  of  the  Holy  Ghost  returned  from 


BIBLE  GEMS.  89 

Jordan,  and  was  led  by  the  Spirit  into  the 
wilderness,  being  forty  days  tempted  of  the 
devil.  And  in  those  days  he  did  eat  nothing  : 
and  when  they  were  ended,  he  afterward 
hungered.  And  the  devil  said  unto  him,  If 
thou  be  the  Son  of  God,  command  this 
stone  that  it  be  made  bread.  And  Jesus  an- 
swered him,  saying,  It  is  written,  That  man 
shall  not  live  by  bread  alone,  but  by  every 
word  of  God.  And  the  devil,  taking  him  up 
into  a  high  mountain,  shewed  unto  him  all 
the  kingdoms  of  the  world  in  a  moment  of 
time.  And  the  devil  said  unto  him,  All  this 
power  will  I  give  thee,  and  the  glory  of 
them  :  for  that  is  delivered  unto  me  ;  and  to 
whomsoever  I  will,  I  give  it.  If  thou  there- 
fore wilt  worship  me,  all  shall  be  thine.  And 
Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him,  Get  thee 
behind  me,  Satan  :  for  it  is  written,  Thou 
shalt  worship  the  Lord  thy  God,  and  him 
only  shalt  thou  serve.  And  he  brought  him 
to  Jerusalem,  and  set  him  on  a  pinnacle  of 
the  temple,  and  said  unto  him,  If  thou  be 
the  Son  of  God,  cast  thyself  down  from 
hence  :  for  it  is  written,  He  shall  give  his 
angels  charge  over  thee,  to  keep  thee  :  and 
in  their  hands  they  shall  bear  thee  up,  lest 
at  any  time  thou  dash  thy  foot  against  a 
stone.  And  Jesus  answering  said  unto  him, 
It  is  said,  Thou  shalt  not  tempt  the  Lord  thy 
God.  And  when  the  devil  had  ended  all  the 
temptation,  he  departed  from  him  for  a  sea- 
son.— Luke  iv.  1-13. 


00  BIBLE  GEMS. 

The  Transfiguration  of  Christ.  And  after 
six  days  Jesus  taketh  Peter,  James,  and  John 
his  brother,  and  bringeth  them  up  into  a 
high  mountain  apart,  and  was  transfigured 
before  them  :  and  his  face  did  shine  as  the 
sun,  and  his  raiment  was  white  as  the  light. 
And,  behold,  there  appeared  unto  them 
Moses  and  Elias  talking  with  him.  Then 
answered  Peter,  and  said  unto  Jesus,  Lord,  it 
is  good  for  us  to  be  here  :  if  thou  wilt,  let 
us  make  here  three  tabernacles ;  one  for 
thee,  and  one  for  Moses,  and  one  for  Elias. 
While  he  yet  spake,  behold,  a  bright  cloud 
overshadowed  them  :  and  behold  a  voice  out 
of  the  cloud,  which  said,  This  is  my  beloved 
Son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased  ;  hear  ye 
him.  And  when  the  disciples  heard  it,  they 
fell  on  their  face,  and  were  sore  afraid.  And 
Jesus  came  and  touched  them,  and  said, 
Arise,  and  be  not  afraid.  And  when  they 
had  lifted  up  their  eyes,  they  saw  no  man, 
save  Jesus  only. — Matt.  xvii.  1-8. 

The  Crucifixion  of  Christ.  (Read  Mat- 
thew, chapters  xxvi.,  xxvii.) 

The  Resurrection  of  Christ.  (Read  Luke, 
chapter  xxiv.) 

The  Regeneration  of  the  Soul.  There 
was  a  man  of  the  Pharisees,  named  Nicode- 
mus,  a  ruler  of  the  Jews  :  the  same  came 
to  Jesus  by  night,  and  said  unto  him,  Rabbi, 


BIBLE  GEMS.  91 

we  know  that  thou  art  a  teacher  come  from 
God  :  for  no  man  can  do  these  miracles 
that  thou  doest,  except  God  be  with  him. 
Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him,  Verily, 
verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  Except  a  man  be 
born  again,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of 
God.  Nicodemus  saith  unto  him,  How  can 
a  man  be  born  when  he  is  old  ?  can  he  enter 
the  second  time  into  his  mother's  womb,  and 
be  born  ?  Jesus  answered,  Verily,  verily,  I 
say  unto  thee,  Except  a  man  be  born  of 
water  and  of  the  Spirit,  he  cannot  enter  into 
the  kingdom  of  God.  That  which  is  born 
of  the  flesh  is  flesh  ;  and  that  which  is  born 
of  the  Spirit  is  spirit.  Marvel  not  that  I  said 
unto  thee,  Ye  must  be  born  again.  The  wind 
bloweth  where  it  listeth,  and  thou  hearest 
the  sound  thereof,  but  canst  not  tell  whence 
it  cometh,  and  wmither  it  goeth  :  so  is  every 
one  that  is  born  of  the  Spirit.  Nicodemus 
answered  and  said  unto  him,  How  can  these 
things  be?  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto 
him,  Art  thou  a  master  of  Israel,  and  know- 
est  not  these  things  ?  Verily,  verily,  I  say 
unto  thee,  We  speak  that  we  do  know, 
and  testify  that  we  have  seen  ;  and  ye  re- 
ceive not  our  witness.  If  I  have  told  you 
earthly  things,  and  ye  believe  not,  how  shall 
ye  believe,  if  I  tell  you  of  heavenly  things  ? 
And  no  man  hath  ascended  up  to  heaven,  but 
he  that  came  down  from  heaven,  even  the 
Son  of  man  which  is  in  heaven.  And  as 
Moses  lifted  up  the  serpent  in  the  wilder- 


92  BIBLE  GEMS. 

ness,  even  so  must  the  Son  of  man  be  lifted 
up  :  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should 
not  perish,  but  have  eternal  life.  For  God  so 
loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten 
Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should 
not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life.  For 
God  sent  not  his  Son  into  the  world  to  con- 
demn the  world  ;  but  that  the  world  through 
him  might  be  saved.  He  that  believeth  on 
him  is  not  condemned  :  but  he  that  believ- 
eth not  is  condemned  already,  because  he 
hath  not  believed  in  the  name  of  the  only  be- 
gotten Son  of  God.  And  this  is  the  condem- 
nation, that  light  is  come  into  the  world, 
and  men  loved  darkness  rather  than  light, 
because  their  deeds  were  evil.  For  every 
one  that  doeth  evil  hateth  the  light,  neither 
cometh  to  the  light,  lest  his  deeds  should  be 
reproved. — John  iii.  1-20. 

The  Conversion  of  Saul.  (Read  Acts 
ix.  1-31.) 

The  Final  Judgment.  When  the  Son  of 
man  shall  come  in  his  glory,  and  all  the  holy 
angels  with  him,  then  shall  he  sit  upon  the 
throne  of  his  glory  :  and  before  him  shall  be 
gathered  all  nations  :  and  he  shall  separate 
them  one  from  another,  as  a  shepherd  divid- 
eth  his  sheep  from  the  goats  :  and  he  shall 
set  the  sheep  on  his  right  hand,  but  the  goats 
on  the  left.  Then  shall  the  King  say  unto 
them  on  his  right  hand,  Come,  ye  blessed  of 


BIBLE  GEMS.  93 

my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for 
you  from  the  foundation  of  the  world  :  for  I 
was  a  hungered,  and  ye  gave  me  meat :  I 
was  thirsty,  and  ye  gave  me  drink  :  I  was  a 
stranger,  and  ye  took  me  in  :  naked,  and  ye 
clothed  me  :  I  was  sick,  and  ye  visited  me  : 
I  was  in  prison,  and  ye  came  unto  me.  Then 
shall  the  righteous  answer  him,  saying,  Lord, 
when  saw  we  thee  a  hungered,  and  fed  thee  ? 
or  thirsty,  and  gave  thee  drink  ?  When  saw 
we  thee  a  stranger,  and  took  thee  in?  or 
naked,  and  clothed  thee  ?  Or  when  saw  we 
thee  sick,  or  in  prison,  and  came  unto  thee? 
And  the  King  shall  answer  and  say  unto 
them,  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  Inasmuch  as  ye 
have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these 
my  brethren,  ye  have  done  it  unto  me.  Then 
shall  he  say  also  unto  them  on  the  left  hand, 
Depart  from  me,  ye  cursed,  into  everlasting 
fire,  prepared  for  the  devil  and  his  angels  : 
for  I  was  a  hungered,  and  ye  gave  me  no 
meat  :  I  was  thirsty,  and  ye  gave  me  no 
drink  :  I  was  a  stranger,  and  ye  took  me  not 
in  :  naked,  and  ye  clothed  me  not  :  sick,  and 
in  prison,  and  ye  visited  me  not.  Then  shall 
they  also  answer  him,  saying,  Lord,  when 
saw  we  thee  a  hungered,  or  athirst,  or  a 
stranger,  or  naked,  or  sick,  or  in  prison,  and 
did  not  minister  unto  thee  ?  Then  shall  he 
answer  them,  saying,  Verily  I  say  unto  you, 
Inasmuch  as  ye  did  it  not  to  one  of  the  least 
of  these,  ye  did  it  not  to  me.  And  these 
shall  go  away  into  everlasting  punishment : 


94  BIBLE  GEMS. 

but  the  righteous  into  life  eternal. — Matt. 
xxv.  31-46. 

The    New    Jerusalem.     (Read    REVELA- 
TION, chapters  xxi.,  xxii.) 


CHAPTER  VII. 

eloquence;  in  address  and  appear. 

[In  the  following  addresses  are  found 
some  of  the  finest  and  most  constraining 
forms  of  public  appeal  and  personal  argu- 
ment. ] 

Abraham's  Plea  for  Sodom.  And  Abra- 
ham drew  near,  and  said,  Wilt  thou  also  de- 
stroy the  righteous  with  the  wicked  ?  Per- 
adventure  there  be  fifty  righteous  within  the 
city  :  wilt  thou  also  destroy  and  not  spare 
the  place  for  the  fifty  righteous  that  are 
therein  ?  That  be  far  from  thee  to  do  after 
this  manner,  to  slay  the  righteous  with  the 
wicked  ;  and  that  the  righteous  should  be  as 
the  wicked,  that  be  far  from  thee  :  Shall  not 
the  Judge  of  all  the  earth  do  right  ?  And 
the  Lord  said,  If  I  find  in  Sodom  fifty  right- 
eous within  the  city,  then  I  will  spare  all  the 
place  for  their  sakes.  And  Abraham  an- 
swered and  said,  Behold  now,  I  have  taken 
upon  me  to  speak  unto  the  Lord,  which  am 
but  dust  and  ashes  :  Peradventure  there 
shall  lack  five  of  the  fifty  righteous  :  wilt 
thou  destroy  all  of  the  city  for  lack  of  five  ? 
And  he  said,  If  I  find  there  forty  and  five,  I 
will  not  destroy  it.  And  he  spake  unto  him 
yet  again,  and  said,  Peradventure  there  shall 
(95) 


9G  BIBLE  GEMS. 

be  forty  found  there.  And  he  said,  I  will  not 
do  it  for  forty's  sake.  And  he  said  unto  him, 
Oh  let  not  the  Lord  be  angry,  and  I  will 
speak  :  Peradventure  there  shall  thirty  be 
found  there.  And  he  said,  I  will  not  do  it, 
if  I  find  thirty  there.  And  he  said,  Behold 
now,  I  have  taken  upon  me  to  speak  unto 
the  Lord  :  Peradventure  there  shall  be  twenty 
found  there.  And  he  said,  I  will  not  destroy 
it  for  twenty's  sake.  And  he  said,  Oh  let  not 
the  Lord  be  angry,  and  I  will  speak  yet  but 
this  once  :  Peradventure  ten  shall  be  found 
there.  And  he  said,  I  will  not  destroy  it  for 
ten's  sake.  And  the  Lord  went  his  way,  as 
soon  as  he  had  left  communing  with  Abra- 
ham :  and  Abraham  returned  unto  his  place. 
—Gen.  xviii.  23-33. 

Judah's  Entreaty  for  Benjamin.  Then 
Judah  came  near  unto  -him,  and  said,  Omy 
Lord,  let  thy  servant,  I  pray  thee,  speak  a 
word  in  my  lord's  ears,  and  let  not  thine 
anger  burn  against  thy  servant  :  for  thou  art 
even  as  Pharaoh.  My  lord  asked  his  serv- 
ants, saying,  Have  ye  a  father,  or  a  brother  ? 
And  he  said  unto  my  lord,  We  have  a  father, 
an  old  man,  and  a  child  of  his  old  age,  a  lit- 
tle one  ;  and  his  brother  is  dead,  and  he 
alone  is  left  of  his  mother,  and  his  father 
loveth  him.  And  thou  saidst  unto  thy  serv- 
ants, Bring  him  down  unto  me,  that  I  may 
set  mine  eyes  upon  him.  And  he  said  unto 
my  lord,  The  lad  cannot  leave  his  father  :  for 


BIBLE  GEMS.  97 

if  he  should  leave  his  father,  his  father 
would  die.  And  thou  saidst  unto  thy  serv- 
ants, Except  your  youngest  brother  come 
down  with  you,  ye  shall  see  my  face  no 
more.  And  it  came  to  pass  when  we  came 
up  unto  thy  servant  my  father,  we  told  him 
the  words  of  my  lord.  And  our  father  said, 
Go  again,  and  buy  us  a  little  food.  And  we 
said,  We  cannot  go  down  :  if  our  youngest 
brother  be  with  us,  then  will  we  go  down  : 
for  we  may  not  see  the  man's  face,  except 
our  youngest  brother  be  with  us.  And  thy 
servant  my  father  said  unto  us,  Ye  know  that 
my  wife  bare  me  two  sons  :  and  the  one 
went  out  from  me,  and  I  said,  Surely  he 
is  torn  in  pieces  ;  and  I  saw  him  not  since  : 
and  if  ye  take  this  also  from  me,  and  mis- 
chief befall  him,  ye  shall  bring  down  my 
gray  hairs  with  sorrow  to  the  grave.  Now 
therefore  when  I  come  to  thy  servant  my 
father,  and  the  lad  be  not  with  us ;  seeing 
that  his  life  is  bound  up  in  the  lad's  life  ;  it 
shall  come  to  pass,  when  he  seeth  that  the 
lad  is  not  with  us,  that  he  will  die  :  and  thy 
servants  shall  bring  down  the  gray  hairs  of 
thy  servant  our  father  with  sorrow  to  the 
grave.  For  thy  servant  became  surety  for 
the  lad  unto  my  father,  saying,  If  I  bring 
him  not  unto  thee,  then  I  shall  bear  the 
blame  to  my  father  for  ever.  Now  therefore, 
I  pray  thee,  let  thy  servant  abide  instead  of 
the  lad  a  bondman  to  my  lord  ;  and  let  the 
lad  go  up  with  his  brethren.     For  how  shall 


98  BIBLE  GEMS. 

I  go  up  to  my  father,  and  the  lad  be  not  with 
me  ?  lest  peradventure  I  see  the  evil  that 
shall  come  on  my  father. — Gen.  xliv.  18-34. 

Moses'  Farewell  Address.  (See  closing 
chapters  of  Deuteronomy.) 

Joshua's  Parting  Words.  And  it  came  to 
pass,  a  long  time  after  that  the  Lord  had 
given  rest  unto  Israel  from  all  their  enemies 
round  about,  that  Joshua  waxed  old  and 
stricken  in  age.  And  Joshua  called  for  all 
Israel,  and  for  their  elders,  and  for  their 
heads,  and  for  their  judges,  and  for  their 
officers,  and  said  unto  them,  I  am  old  and 
stricken  in  age  :  and  ye  have  seen  all  that 
the  Lord  your  God  hath  done  unto  all  these 
nations  because  of  you  ;  for  the  Lord  your 
God  is  he  that  hath  fought  for  you.  Behold, 
I  have  divided  unto  you  by  lot  these  nations 
that  remain,  to  be  an  inheritance  for  your 
tribes,  from  Jordan,  with  all  the  nations  that 
I  have  cut  off,  even  unto  the  great  sea  west- 
ward. And  the  Lord  your  God,  he  shall  ex- 
pel them  from  before  you,  and  drive  them 
from  out  of  your  sight  ;  and  ye  shall  possess 
their  land,  as  the  Lord  your  God  hath  prom- 
ised unto  you.  Be  ye  therefore  very  cour- 
ageous to  keep  and  to  do  all  that  is  written 
in  the  book  of  the  law  of  Moses,  that  ye  turn 
not  aside  therefrom  to  the  right  hand  or  to 
the  left ;  that  ye  come  not  among  these  na- 
tions, these  that  remain  among  you  ;  neither 


BIBLE  GEMS.  99 

make  mention  of  the  name  of  their  gods, 
nor  cause  to  swear  by  them,  neither  serve 
them,  nor  bow  yourselves  unto  them  :  but 
cleave  unto  the  Lord  your  God,  as  ye  have 
done  unto  this  day.  For  the  Lord  hath 
driven  out  from  before  you  great  nations  and 
strong  :  but  as  for  you,  no  man  hath  been 
able  to  stand  before  you  unto  this  day. 
One  man  of  you  shall  chase  a  thousand  : 
for  the  Lord  your  God,  he  it  is  that  fight- 
eth  for  you,  as  he  that  promised  you.  Take 
good  heed  therefore  unto  yourselves,  that 
ye  love  the  Lord  your  God.  Else,  if  ye 
do  in  any  wise  go  back,  and  cleave  unto 
the  remnant  of  these  nations,  even  these 
that  remain  among  you,  and  shall  make 
marriages  with  them,  and  go  in  unto  them, 
and  they  to  you  :  know  for  a  certainty  that 
the  Lord  your  God  will  no  more  drive  out 
any  of  these  nations  from  before  you  ;  but 
they  shall  be  snares  and  traps  unto  you,  and 
scourges  in  your  sides,  and  thorns  in  your 
eyes,  until  ye  perish  from  off  this  good  land 
which  the  Lord  your  God  hath  given  you. 
And,  behold,  this  day  I  am  going  the  way  of 
all  the  earth  :  and  ye  know  in  all  your  hearts 
and  in  all  your  souls,  that  not  one  thing 
hath  failed  of  all  the  good  things  which  the 
Lord  your  God  spake  concerning  you  ;  all 
are  come  to  pass  unto  you,  and  not  one 
thing  hath  failed  thereof.  Therefore  it  shall 
come  to  pass,  that  as  all  good  things  are 
come  upon  you,  which  the  Lord  your  God 


100  BIBLE  GEMS. 

promised  you  ;  so  shall  the  Lord  bring  upon 
you  all  evil  things,  until  he  have  destroyed 
you  from  off  this  good  laud  which  the  Lord 
your  God  hath  given  you.  When  ye  have 
transgressed  the  covenant  of  the  Lord  your 
God,  which  he  commanded  you,  and  have 
gone  and  served  other  gods,  and  bowed  your- 
selves to  them  ;  then  shall  the  anger  of  the 
Lord  be  kindled  against  you,  and  ye  shall 
perish  quickly  from  off  the  good  land  which 
he  hath  given  unto  you.  .  .  .  Now  therefore 
fear  the  Lord,  and  serve  him  in  sincerity  and 
in  truth  ;  and  put  away  the  gods  which  your 
fathers  served  on  the  other  side  of  the  flood, 
and  in  Egypt  ;  and  serve  ye  the  Lord.  And 
if  it  seem  evil  unto  you  to  serve  the  Lord, 
choose  you  this  day  whom  )Te  will  serve ; 
whether  the  gods  which  your  fathers  served 
that  were  on  the  other  side  of  the  flood,  or 
the  gods  of  the  Amorites,  in  whose  laud  ye 
dwell  :  but  as  for  me  and  my  house,  we 
will  serve  the  Lord.  And  the  people  an- 
swered and  said,  God  forbid  that  we  should 
forsake  the  Lord,  to  serve  other  gods ;  for 
the  Lord  our  God,  he  it  is  that  brought 
us  up  and  our  fathers  out  of  the  land  of 
Egypt,  from  the  house  of  bondage,  and 
which  did  those  great  signs  in  our  sight, 
and  preserved  us  in  all  the  way  where- 
in we  went,  and  among  all  the  people 
through  whom  we  passed :  and  the  Lord 
drave  out  from  before  us  all  the  people,  even 
the  Amorites  which  dwelt  in  the  land  :  there- 


BIBLE  GEMS.  101 

fore  will  we  also  serve  the  Lord  ;  for  he  is 
our  God.  And  Joshua  said  unto  the  people, 
Ye  cannot  serve  the  Lord  :  for  he  is  a  holy 
God  ;  he  is  a  jealous  God  ;  he  will  not  for- 
give your  transgressions  nor  your  sins.  If  ye 
forsake  the  Lord,  and  serve  strange  gods, 
then  he  will  turn  and  do  you  hurt,  and  con- 
sume you,  after  that  he  hath  done  you  good. 
And  the  people  said  unto  Joshua,  Nay  ;  but 
we  will  serve  the  Lord.  And  Joshua  said 
unto  the  people,  Ye  are  witnesses  against 
yourselves  that  ye  have  chosen  you  the  Lord, 
to  serve  him.  And  they  said,  We  are  wit- 
nesses. Now  therefore  put  away,  said  he, 
the  strange  gods  which  are  among  you,  and 
incline  your  heart  unto  the  Lord  God  of 
Israel.  And  the  people  said  unto  Joshua, 
The  Lord  our  God  will  we  serve,  and  his 
voice  will  we  obey. — Josh,  xxiii.  1-16 ;  xxiv. 
14-24. 

Ruth's  Choice.  And  they  lifted  up  their 
voice,  and  wept  again  :  and  Orpah  kissed  her 
mother  in  law  ;  but  Ruth  clave  unto  her. 
And  she  said,  Behold,  thy  sister  in  law  is 
gone  back  unto  her  people,  and  unto  her 
gods  :  return  thou  after  thy  sister  in  law. 
And  Ruth  said,  Entreat  me  not  to  leave  thee, 
or  to  return  from  following  after  thee  :  for 
whither  thou  goest,  I  will  go  ;  and  where 
thou  lodgest,  I  will  lodge  :  thy  people  shall 
be  my  people,  and  thy  God  my  God  :  where 
thou  diest,  will  I  die,  and  there  will  I  be 


102  BIBLE  GEMS. 

buried  :  the  Lord  do  so  to  me,  and  more 
also,  if  aught  but  death  part  thee  and  me. — 
Ruth  i.  14-17. 

Elijah's  Appeal  in  Behalf  of  Jehovah. 
And  Elijah  came  unto  all  the  people,  and 
said,  How  long  halt  ye  between  two  opin- 
ions? if  the  Lord  be  God,  follow  him  :  but 
if  Baal,  then  follow  him.  And  the  people 
answered  him  not  a  word.  Then  said  Elijah 
unto  the  people,  I,  even  I  only,  remain  a 
prophet  of  the  Lord  ;  but  Baal's  prophets 
are  four  hundred  and  fifty  men.  Let  them 
therefore  give  us  two  bullocks  ;  and  let  them 
choose  one  bullock  for  themselves,  and  cut 
it  in  pieces,  and  lay  it  on  wood,  and  put  no 
fire  under :  and  I  will  dress  the  other  bul- 
lock, and  lay  it  on  wood,  and  put  no  fire 
under :  and  call  ye  on  the  name  of  your 
gods,  and  I  will  call  on  the  name  of  the 
Lord  :  and  the  God  that  answereth  by  fire, 
let  him  be  God.  And  all  the  people  answered 
and  said,  It  is  well  spoken.  And  Elijah  said 
unto  the  prophets  of  Baal,  Choose  you  one 
bullock  for  yourselves,  and  dress  it  first ;  for 
ye  are  many  ;  and  call  on  the  name  of  your 
gods,  but  put  no  fire  under.  And  they  took 
the  bullock  which  was  given  them,  and  they 
dressed  it,  and  called  on  the  name  of  Baal 
from  morning  even  until  noon,  saying,  O 
Baal,  hear  us.  But  there  was  no  voice,  nor 
any  that  answered.  And  they  leaped  upon 
the  altar  which  was  made.     And  it  came  to 


BIBLE  GEMS.  10U 

pass  at  noon,  that  Elijah  mocked  them,  and 
said,  Cry  aloud  :  for  he  is  a  god  ;  either  he  is 
talking,  or  he  is  pursuing,  or  he  is  in  a  jour- 
ney, or  peradventure  he  sleepeth,  and  must 
be  awaked.  And  they  cried  aloud,  and  cut 
themselves  after  their  manner  with  knives 
and  lancets,  till  the  blood  gushed  out  upon 
them.  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  midday 
was  past,  and  they  prophesied  until  the  time 
of  the  offering  of  the  evening  sacrifice,  that 
there  was  neither  voice,  nor  any  to  answer, 
nor  any  that  regarded.  And  Elijah  said 
unto  all  the  people,  Come  near  unto  me.  And 
all  the  people  came  near  unto  him.  And  he 
repaired  the  altar  of  the  Lord  that  was 
broken  down.  And  Elijah  took  twelve 
stones,  according  to  the  number  of  the  tribes 
of  the  sons  of  Jacob,  unto  whom  the  word  of 
the  Lord  came,  saying,  Israel  shall  be  thy 
name  :  and  with  the  stones  he  built  an  altar 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord  :  and  he  made  a 
trench  about  the  altar,  as  great  as  would  con- 
tain two  measures  of  seed.  And  he  put  the 
wood  in  order,  and  cut  the  bullock  in  pieces, 
and  laid  him  on  the  wood,  and  said,  Fill  four 
barrels  with  water,  and  pour  it  on  the  burnt 
sacrifice,  and  on  the  wood.  And  he  said,  Do 
it  the  second  time.  And  they  did  it  the 
second  time.  And  he  said,  Do  it  the  third 
time.  And  they  did  it  the  third  time.  And 
the  water  ran  round  about  the  altar  ;  and  he 
filled  the  trench  also  with  water.  And  it 
came  to  pass  at  the  time  of  the  offering  of 


104  BIBLE  OEMS. 

the  evening  sacrifice,  that  Elijah  the  prophet 
came  near,  and  said,  Lord  God  of  Abraham, 
Isaac,  and  of  Israel,  let  it  be  known  this  day 
that  thou  art  God  in  Israel,  and  that  I  am 
thy  servant,  and  that  I  have  done  all  these 
things  at  thy  word.  Hear  me,  O  Lord,  hear 
me,  that  this  people  may  know  that  thou  art 
the  Lord  God,  and  that  thou  hast  turned 
their  heart  back  again.  Then  the  fire  of 
the  Lord  fell,  and  consumed  the  burnt 
sacrifice,  and  the  wood,  and  the  stones, 
and  the  dust,  and  licked  up  the  water  that 
was  in  the  trench.  And  when  all  the  people 
saw  it,  they  fell  on  their  faces  :  and  they 
said,  The  Lord,  he  is  the  God  ;  the  Lord,  he 
is  the  God.  And  Elijah  said  unto  them, 
Take  the  prophets  of  Baal  ;  let  not  one  of 
them  escape.  And  they  took  them  :  and 
Elijah  brought  them  down  to  the  brook 
Kishon,  and  slew  them  there. — i  Kings 
xviii.  21-40. 

Mordecai's  Plea  with  Queen  Esther. 
And  they  told  to  Mordecai  Esther's  words. 
Then  Mordecai  commanded  to  answer 
Esther,  Think  not  with  thyself  that  thou 
shalt  escape  in  the  king's  house,  more  than 
all  the  Jews.  For  if  thou  altogether  holdest 
thy  peace  at  this  time,  then  shall  there  en- 
largement and  deliverance  arise  to  the  Jews 
from  another  place  ;  but  thou  and  thy 
father's  house  shall  be  destroyed  :  and  who 
knoweth  whether  thou  art  come  to  the  king- 


BIBLE  GEMS.  105 

dom   for  such  a  time  as  this  ? — Esther  iv. 
12-14. 

Peter's  Sermon  on  Day  of  Pentecost. 
(Read  Acts  ii.  14-36.) 

Peter's  Address  at  Solomon's  Porch. 
And  as  the  lame  man  which  was  healed  held 
Peter  and  John,  all  the  people  ran  together 
unto  them  in  the  porch  that  is  called  Solo- 
mon's, greatly  wondering.  And  when  Peter 
saw  it,  he  answered  unto  the  people,  Ye  men 
of  Israel,  why  marvel  ye  at  this?  or  why 
look  ye  so  earnestly  on  us,  as  though  by  our 
own  power  and  holiness  we  had  made  this 
man  to  walk  ?  The  God  of  Abraham,  and  of 
Isaac,  and  of  Jacob,  the  God  of  our  fathers, 
hath  glorified  his  Son  Jesus  ;  whom  ye  deliv- 
ered up,  and  denied  him  in  the  presence  of 
Pilate,  when  he  was  determined  to  let  him 
go.  But  ye  denied  the  Holy  One  and  the 
Just,  and  desired  a  murderer  to  be  granted 
unto  you  ;  and  killed  the  Prince  of  life, 
whom  God  hath  raised  from  the  dead  ;  where- 
of we  are  witnesses.  And  his  name,  through 
faith  in  his  name,  hath  made  this  man 
strong,  whom  ye  see  and  know  :  yea,  the 
faith  which  is  by  him  hath  given  him  this 
perfect  soundness  in  the  presence  of  you  all. 
And  now,  brethren,  I  wot  that  through  ignor- 
ance ye  did  it,  as  did  also  your  rulers.  But 
those  things,  which  God  before  had  shewed 
by  the  mouth  of  all  his  prophets,  that  Christ 


106  BIBLE  GEMS. 

should  suffer,  be  hath  so  fulfilled.  Repent 
ye  therefore,  and  be  converted,  that  your 
sins  may  be  blotted  out,  when  the  times  of 
refreshing  shall  come  from  the  presence  of 
the  Lord  ;  and  he  shall  send  Jesus  Christ, 
which  before  was  preached  unto  you  :  whom 
the  heaven  must  receive  until  the  times  of 
restitution  of  all  things,  which  God  hath 
spoken  by  the  mouth  of  all  his  holy  prophets 
since  the  world  began.  For  Moses  truly  said 
unto  the  fathers,  A  Prophet  shall  the  Lord 
your  God  raise  up  unto  you  of  your  breth- 
ren, like  unto  me  ;  him  shall  ye  hear  in  all 
things  whatsoever  he  shall  say  unto  you. 
And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  every  soul, 
which  will  not  hear  that  Prophet,  shall  be 
destroyed  from  among  the  people.  Yea,  and 
all  the  prophets  from  Samuel  and  those  that 
follow  after,  as  many  as  have  spoken,  have 
likewise  foretold  of  these  days.  Ye  are  the 
children  of  the  prophets,  and  of  the  cove- 
nant which  God  made  with  our  fathers,  say- 
ing unto  Abraham,  And  in  thy  seed  shall  all 
the  kindreds  of  the  earth  be  blessed.  Unto 
you  first  God,  having  raised  up  his  Son  Jesus, 
sent  him  to  bless  you,  in  turning  away  every 
one  of  you  from  his  iniquities. — ACTS  iii. 
11-26. 

Stephen's     Defence     Before     the     High 

Priest.     (Read  ACTS  vii.) 

Paul's  Address  on  Mars'  Hill.  Then  Paul 


BIBLE  GEMS.  107 

stood  in  the  midst  of  Mars'  hill,  and  said, 
Ye  men  of  Athens,  I  perceive  that  in  all 
things  ye  are  too  superstitious.  For  as  I 
passed  by,  and  beheld  your  devotions,  I 
found  an  altar  with  this  inscription,  TO  THE 
UNKNOWN  GOD.  Whom  therefore  ye 
ignorantly  worship,  him  declare  I  unto  you. 
God  that  made  the  world  and  all  things 
therein,  seeing  that  he  is  Lord  of  heaven 
and  earth,  dwelleth  not  in  temples  made 
with  hands ;  neither  is  worshipped  with 
men's  hands,  as  though  he  needed  any  thing, 
seeing  he  giveth  to  all  life,  and  breath,  and 
all  things ;  and  hath  made  of  one  blood  all 
nations  of  men  for  to  dwell  on  all  the  face  of 
the  earth,  and  hath  determined  the  times  be- 
fore appointed,  and  the  bounds  of  their  habi- 
tation ;  that  they  should  seek  the  Lord,  if 
haply  they  might  feel  after  him,  and  find 
him,  though  he  be  not  far  from  every  one 
of  us :  for  in  him  we  live,  and  move, 
and  have  our  being ;  as  certain  also  of  your 
own  poets  have  said,  For  we  are  also  his  off- 
spring. Forasmuch  then  as  we  are  the  off- 
spring of  God,  we  ought  not  to  think  that 
the  Godhead  is  like  unto  gold,  or  silver,  or 
stone,  graven  by  art  and  man's  device.  And 
the  times  of  this  ignorance  God  winked  at ; 
but  now  commandeth  all  men  everywhere  to 
repent  :  because  he  hath  appointed  a  day,  in 
the  which  he  will  judge  the  world  in  right- 
eousness by  that  man  whom  he  hath  or- 
dained ;    whereof   he  hath  given  assurance 


108  15IBLE  GEMS. 

unto   all   men,  in   that   he  hath  raised  him 
from  the  dead. — ACTS  xvii.  22-31. 

Ephesian  Town  Clerk's  Appeal  to  a  Mob. 
And  when  the  townclerk  had  appeased  the 
people,  he  said,  Ye  men  of  Ephesus,  what  man 
is  there  that  knoweth  not  how  that  the  city 
of  the  Ephesians  is  a  worshipper  of  the  great 
goddess  Diana,  and  of  the  image  which  fell 
down  from  Jupiter  ?  Seeing  then  that  these 
things  cannot  be  spoken  against,  ye  ought 
to  be  quiet,  and  to  do  nothing  rashly.  For 
ye  have  brought  hither  these  men,  which 
are  neither  robbers  of  churches,  nor  yet  blas- 
phemers of  your  goddess.  Wherefore  if 
Demetrius,  and  the  craftsmen  which  are  with 
him,  have  a  matter  against  any  man,  the  law 
is  open,  and  there  are  deputies :  let  them 
implead  one  another.  But  if  ye  inquire  any 
thing  concerning  other  matters,  it  shall  be 
determined  in  a  lawful  assembly.  For  we 
are  in  danger  to  be  called  in  question  for  this 
day's  uproar,  there  being  no  cause  whereby 
we  may  give  an  account  of  this  concourse. 
And  when  he  had  thus  spoken,  he  dismissed 
the  assembly. — Acts  xix.  35-41. 

Tertullus  Before  Felix.  And  when  he  was 
called  forth,  Tertullus  began  to  accuse  him, 
saying,  Seeing  that  by  thee  we  enjoy  great 
quietness,  and  that  very  worthy  deeds  are 
done  unto  this  nation  by  thy  providence,  we 
accept  it  always,  and  in  all  places,  most  no- 


BIBLE  GEMS.  109 

ble  Felix,  with  all  thankfulness.  Notwith- 
standing, that  I  be  not  further  tedious  unto 
thee,  I  pray  thee  that  thou  wouldest  hear  us 
of  thy  clemency  a  few  words.  For  we  have 
found  this  man  a  pestilent  fellow,  and  a  mov- 
er of  sedition  among  all  the  Jews  throughout 
the  world,  and  a  ringleader  of  the  sect  of  the 
Nazarenes  :  who  also  hath  gone  about  to  pro- 
fane the  temple  :  whom  we  took,  and  would 
have  judged  according  to  our  law.  But  the 
chief  captain  Lysias  came  upon  us,  and  with 
great  violence  took  him  away  out  of  our 
hands,  commanding  his  accusers  to  come 
unto  thee  :  by  examining  of  whom  thyself 
mayest  take  knowledge  of  all  these  things, 
whereof  we  accuse  him.  And  the  Jews  also 
assented,  saying  that  these  things  were  so. 

— Acts  xxiv.  2-9. 

Paul's  Rejoinder  Before  Felix.  Then 
Paul,  after  that  the  governor  had  beckoned 
unto  him  to  speak,  answered,  Forasmuch  as 
I  know  that  thou  hast  been  of  many  years  a 
judge  unto  this  nation,  I  do  the  more  cheer- 
fully answer  for  myself :  because  that  thou 
mayest  understand,  that  there  are  yet  but 
twelve  days  since  I  went  up  to  Jerusalem  for 
to  worship.  And  they  neither  found  me  in 
the  temple  disputing  with  any  man,  neither 
raising  up  the  people,  neither  in  the  syna- 
gogues, nor  in  the  city  :  neither  can  they  prove 
the  things  whereof  they  now  accuse  me.  But 
this  I  confess  unto  thee,  that  after  the  way 


110  BIBLE  GEMS. 

which  they  call  heresy,  so  worship  I  the  God 
of  ray  fathers,  believing  all  things  which  are 
written  in  the  law  and  in  the  prophets  :  and 
have  hope  toward  God,  which  they  them- 
selves also  allow,  that  there  shall  be  a  resur- 
rection of  the  dead,  both  of  the  just  and 
unjust.  And  herein  do  I  exercise  myself,  to 
have  always  a  conscience  void  of  offence 
toward  God,  and  toward  men.  Now  after 
many  years  I  came  to  bring  alms  to  my 
nation,  and  offerings.  Whereupon  certain 
Jews  from  Asia  found  me  purified  in  the 
temple,  neither  with  multitude,  nor  with 
tumult.  Who  ought  to  have  been  here  be- 
fore thee,  and  object,  if  they  had  aught 
against  me.  Or  else  let  these  same  here  say, 
if  they  have  found  any  evil  doing  in  me, 
while  I  stood  before  the  council,  except  it  be 
for  this  one  voice,  that  I  cried  standing  among 
them,  Touching  the  resurrection  of  the  dead 
I  am  called  in  question  by  you  this  day. — 
Acts  xxiv.  10-21. 

Paul's  Reply  to  Festus.  But  Festus,  will- 
ing to  do  the  Jews  a  pleasure,  answered  Paul, 
and  said,  Wilt  thou  go  up  to  Jerusalem,  and 
there  be  judged  of  these  things  before  me? 
Then  said  Paul,  I  stand  at  Cesar's  judgment 
seat,  where  I  ought  to  be  judged  :  to  the 
Jews  have  I  done  no  wrong,  as  thou  very 
well  knowest.  For  if  I  be  an  offender,  or 
have  committed  any  thing  worthy  of  death, 
I  refuse  not  to  die  :  but  if  there  be  none  of 


BIBLE  GEMS.  Ill 

these  things  whereof  these  accuse  me,  no 
man  may  deliver  me  unto  them.  I  appeal 
unto  Cesar. — ACTS  xxv.  9-11. 

Paul's  Address  Before  King  Agrippa. 
Then  Agrippa  said  unto  Paul,  Thou  art  per- 
mitted to  speak  for  thyself.  Then  Paul 
stretched  forth  the  hand,  and  answered  for 
himself  :  I  think  myself  happy,  King  Agrip- 
pa, because  I  shall  answer  for  myself  this 
day  before  thee  touching  all  the  things 
whereof  I  am  accused  of  the  Jews  :  espe- 
cially because  I  know  thee  to  be  expert  in 
all  customs  and  questions  which  are  among 
the  Jews  :  wherefore  I  beseech  thee  to  hear 
me  patiently.  My  manner  of  life  from  my 
youth,  which  was  at  the  first  among  mine 
own  nation  at  Jerusalem,  know  all  the  Jews  ; 
which  knew  me  from  the  beginning,  if  they 
would  testify,  that  after  the  most  straitest 
sect  of  our  religion  I  lived  a  Pharisee.  And 
now  I  stand  and  am  judged  for  the  hope  of 
the  promise  made  of  God  unto  our  fathers  : 
unto  which  promise  our  twelve  tribes,  in- 
stantly serving  God  day  and  night,  hope  to 
come.  For  which  hope's  sake,  king  Agrippa, 
I  am  accused  of  the  Jews.  Why  should  it  be 
thought  a  thing  incredible  with  you,  that 
God  should  raise  the  dead  ?  I  verily  thought 
with  myself,  that  I  ought  to  do  many  things 
contrary  to  the  name  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth. 
Which  thing  I  also  did  in  Jerusalem  :  and 
many  of  the  saints  did  I  shut  up  in  prison, 


112  BIBLE  GEMS. 

having  received  authority  from  the  chief 
priests  ;  and  when  they  were  put  to  death,  I 
gave  my  voice  against  them.  And  I  punished 
them  oft  in  every  synagogue,  and  compelled 
them  to  blaspheme  ;  and  being  exceedingly 
mad  against  them,  I  persecuted  them  even 
unto  strange  cities.  Whereupon  as  I  went 
to  Damascus  with  authority  and  commission 
from  the  chief  priests,  at  midcfey,  O  king,  I 
saw  in  the  way  a  light  from  heaven,  above 
the  brightness  of  the  sun,  shining  round 
about  me  and  them  which  journeyed  with 
me.  And  when  we  were  all  fallen  to  the 
earth,  I  heafd  a  voice  speaking  unto  me,  and 
saying  in  the  Hebrew  tongue,  Saul,  Saul, 
why  persecutest  thou  me  ?  it  is  hard  for  thee 
to  kick  against  the  pricks.  And  I  said,  Who 
art  thou,  Lord  ?  And  he  said,  I  am  Jesus 
whom  thou  persecutest.  But  rise,  and  stand 
upon  thy  feet :  for  I  have  appeared  unto  thee 
for  this  purpose,  to  make  thee  a  minister  and 
a  witness  both  of  these  things  which  thou 
hast  seen,  and  of  those  things  in  the  which  I 
will  appear  unto  thee  ;  delivering  thee  from 
the  people,  and  from  the  Gentiles,  unto  whom 
now  I  send  thee,  to  open  their  eyes,  and  to 
turn  them  from  darkness  to  light,  and  from 
the  power  of  Satan  unto  God,  that  they  may 
receive  forgiveness  of  sins,  and  inheritance 
among  them  which  are  sanctified  by  faith 
that  is  in  me.  Whereupon,  O  king  Agrip- 
pa,  I  was  not  disobedient  unto  the  heavenly 
vision  :  but  shewed  first  unto  them  of  Da- 


BIBLE  GEMS.  113 

mascus,  and  at  Jerusalem,  and  throughout 
all  the  coasts  of  Judea,  and  then  to  the 
Gentiles,  that  they  should  repent  and  turn 
to  God,  and  do  works  meet  for  repentance. 
For  these  causes  the  Jews  caught  me  in  the 
temple,  and  went  about  to  kill  me.  Having 
therefore  obtained  help  of  God,  I  continue 
unto  this  day,  witnessing  both  to  small  and 
great,  saying ''none  other  things  than  those 
which  the  prophets  and  Moses  did  say  should 
come  :  that  Christ  should  suffer,  and  that  he 
should  be  the  first  that  should  rise  from  the 
dead,  and  should  shew  light  unto  the  people, 
and  to  the  Gentiles.  And  as  he  thus  spake 
for  himself,  Festus  said  with  a  loud  voice, 
Paul,  thou  art  beside  thyself  ;  much  learning 
doth  make  thee  mad.  But  he  said,  I  am  not 
mad,  most  noble  Festus  ;  but  speak  forth  the 
words  of  truth  and  soberness.  For  the  king 
knoweth  of  these  things,  before  whom  also  I 
speak  freely  :  for  I  am  persuaded  that  none 
of  these  things  are  hidden  from  him  ;  for 
this  thing  was  not  done  in  a  corner.  King 
Agrippa,  believest  thou  the  prophets?  I  know 
that  thou  believest.  Then  Agrippa  said  unto 
Paul,  Almost  thou  persuadest  me  to  be  a 
Christian.  And  Paul  said,  I  would  to  God, 
that  not  only  thou,  but  also  all  that  hear  me 
this  day,  were  both  almost,  and  altogether 
such  as  I  am,  except  these  bonds.  And  when 
he  had  thus  spoken,  the  king  rose  up,  and 
the  governor,  and  Bernice,  and  they  that  sat 
with  them  :  and  when  they  were  gone  aside, 


114  BIBLE  GEMS. 

they  talked  between  themselves,  saying,  This 
man  doeth  nothing  worthy  of  death  or  of 
bonds.  Then  said  Agrippa  unto  Festus,  This 
man  might  have  been  set  at  liberty,  if  he  had 
not  appealed  unto  Cesar. — ACTS  xxvi.  1-32. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

SONGS  OF   PRAISE  AND  TRIUMPH. 

Triumphal  Song  of  Moses.  Then  sang 
Moses  and  the  children  of  Israel  this  song 
unto  the  Lord,  and  spake,  saying,  I  will  sing 
unto  the  Lord,  for  he  hath  triumphed  glori- 
ously :  the  horse  and  his  rider  hath  he 
thrown  into  the  sea.  The  Lord  is  my 
strength  and  song,  and  he  is  become  my  sal- 
vation :  he  is  my  God,  and  I  will  prepare 
him  a  habitation  ;  my  father's  God,  and  I 
will  exalt  him.  The  Lord  is  a  man  of  war  : 
the  Lord  is  his  name.  Pharaoh's  chariots 
and  his  hosts  hath  he  cast  into  the  sea  :  his 
chosen  captains  also  are  drowned  in  the  Red 
sea.  The  depths  have  covered  them  :  they 
sank  into  the  bottom  as  a  stone.  Thy  right 
hand,  O  Lord,  is  become  glorious  in  power  : 
thy  right  hand,  O  Lord,  hath  dashed  in  pieces 
the  enemy.  And  in  the  greatness  of  thine 
excellency  thou  hast  overthrown  them  that 
rose  up  against  thee  :  thou  sentest  forth  thy 
wrath,  which  consumed  them  as  stubble. 
And  with  the  blast  of  thy  nostrils  the  waters 
were  gathered  together,  the  floods  stood  up- 
right as  a  heap,  and  the  depths  were  con- 
gealed in  the  heart  of  the  sea.  The  enemy 
said,  I  will  pursue,  I  will  overtake,  I  will  di- 
vide the  spoil ;  my  lust  shall  be  satisfied  up- 
(115) 


116  BIBLE  GEMS. 

on  them  ;  I  will  draw  my  sword,  my  hand 
shall  destroy  them.  Thou  didst  blow  with 
thy  wind,  the  sea  covered  them  :  they  sank 
as  lead  in  the  mighty  waters.  Who  is  like 
unto  thee,  O  Lord,  among  the  gods  ?  who  is 
like  thee,  glorious  in  holiness,  fearful  in 
praises,  doing  wonders  ?  Thou  stretchedst  out 
thy  right  hand,  the  earth  swallowed  them. 
Thou  in  thy  mercy  hast  led  forth  the  people 
which  thou  hast  redeemed  :  thou  hast  guided 
them  in  thy  strength  unto  thy  holy  habita- 
tion. The  people  shall  hear,  and  be  afraid  : 
sorrow  shall  take  hold  on  the  inhabitants  of 
Palestina.  Then  the  dukes  of  Edom  shall 
be  amazed  ;  the  mighty  men  of  Moab, 
trembling  shall  take  hold  upon  them  ;  all 
the  inhabitants  of  Canaan  shall  melt  away. 
Fear  and  dread  shall  fall  upon  them  ;  by  the 
greatness  of  thine  arm  they  shall  be  as  still 
as  a  stone  ;  till  thy  people  pass  over,  O 
Lord,  till  the  people  pass  over,  which  thou 
hast  purchased.  Thou  shalt  bring  them 
in,  and  plant  them  in  the  mountain  of  thine 
inheritance,  in  the  place,  O  Lord,  which 
thou  hast  made  for  thee  to  dwell  in  ;  in 
the  sanctuary,  O  Lord,  which  thy  hands 
have  established.  The  Lord  shall  reign  for 
ever  and  ever.  For  the  horse  of  Pharaoh 
went  in  with  his  chariots  and  with  his  horse- 
men into  the  sea,  and  the  Lord  brought 
again  the  waters  of  the  sea  upon  them  ;  but 
the  children  of  Israel  went  on  dry  land  in 
the  midst  of  the  sea. — Ex.  xv.  1-19. 


BIBLE  GEMS.  117 

Miriam's  Timbrel  Accompaniment.  And 
Miriam  the  prophetess,  the  sister  of  Aaron, 
took  a  timbrel  in  her  hand  ;  and  all  the 
women  went  out  after  her  with  timbrels  and 
with  dances.  And  Miriam  answered  them, 
Sing  ye  to  the  Lord,  for  he  hath  triumphed 
gloriously  :  the  horse  and  his  rider  hath  he 
thrown  into  the  sea. — Ex.  xv.  20,  21. 

A  Seer's  Song  (Balaam's).  And  when 
Balaam  saw  that  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  bless 
Israel,  he  went  not,  as  at  other  times,  to 
seek  for  enchantments,  but  he  set  his  face 
toward  the  wilderness.  And  Balaam  lifted 
up  his  eyes,  and  he  saw  Israel  abiding  in  his 
tents  according  to  their  tribes  ;  and  the  Spirit 
of  God  came  upon  him.  And  he  took  up 
his  parable,  and  said,  Balaam  the  son  of 
Beor  hath  said,  and  the  man  whose  eyes  are 
open  hath  said  :  he  hath  said,  which  heard 
the  words  of  God,  which  saw  the  vision  of 
the  Almighty,  falling  into  a  trance,  but  hav- 
ing his  eyes  open  :  How  goodly  are  thy 
tents,  O  Jacob,  and  thy  tabernacles,  O  Israel  ! 
As  the  valleys  are  they  spread  forth,  as  gar- 
dens by  the  river's  side,  as  the  trees  of  lign- 
aloes  which  the  Lord  hath  planted,  and  as 
cedar  trees  beside  the  waters.  He  shall  pour 
the  water  out  of  his  buckets,  and  his  seed 
shall  be  in  many  waters,  and  his  king  shall 
be  higher  than  Agag,  and  his  kingdom  shall 
be  exalted.  God  brought  him  forth  out  of 
Egypt  ;  he  hath  as  it  were  the  strength   of 


118  BIBLE  GEMS. 

a  unicorn  :  he  shall  eat  up  the  nations  his 
enemies,  and  shall  break  their  bones,  and 
pierce  them  through  with  his  arrows.  He 
couched,  he  lay  down  as  a  lion,  and  as  a 
great  lion  :  who  shall  stir  him  up  ?  Blessed 
is  he  that  blesseth  thee,  and  cursed  is  he 
that  curseth  thee.  .  .  .  And  he  took  up  his 
parable,  and  said,  Balaam  the  son  of  Beor 
hath  said,  and  the  man  whose  eyes  are  open 
hath  said  :  he  hath  said,  which  heard  the 
words  of  God,  and  knew  the  knowledge  of 
the  Most  High,  which  saw  the  vision  of  the 
Almighty,  falling  into  a  trance,  but  having 
his  eyes  open  :  I  shall  see  him,  but  not  now  : 
I  shall  behold  him,  but  not  nigh  :  there  shall 
come  a  Star  out  of  Jacob,  and  a  Sceptre 
shall  rise  out  of  Israel,  and  shall  smite 
the  corners  of  Moab,  and  destroy  all  the 
children  of  Sheth.  And  Edom  shall  be  a 
possession,  Seir  also  shall  be  a  possession 
for  his  enemies  ;  and  Israel  shall  do  val- 
iantly. Out  of  Jacob  shall  come  he  that 
shall  have  dominion,  and  shall  destroy  him 
that  remaineth  of  the  city.  And  when  he 
looked  on  Amalek,  he  took  up  his  parable, 
and  said,  Amalek  was  the  first  of  the  na- 
tions ;  but  his  latter  end  shall  be  that  he 
perish  for  ever.  And  he  looked  on  the  Ken- 
ites,  and  took  up  his  parable,  and  said, 
Strong  is  thy  dwellingplace,  and  thou  put- 
test  thy  nest  in  a  rock.  Nevertheless  the 
Kenite  shall  be  wasted,  until  Asshur  shall 
carry  thee  away  captive.     And  he  took  up 


BIBLE  GEMS.  119 

his  parable,  and  said,  Alas,  who  shall  live 
when  God  doeth  this  !  And  ships  shall  come 
from  the  coast  of  Chittim,  and  shall  afflict 
Asshur,  and  shall  afflict  Eber,  and  he  also 
shall  perish  for  ever. — Num.  xxiv.  1-9,  15-24. 

The  Swan  Song  of  Moses.  Give  ear,  O 
ye  heavens,  and  I  will  speak  ;  and  hear,  O 
earth,  the  words  of  my  mouth.  My  doctrine 
shall  drop  as  the  rain,  my  speech  shall  distil 
as  the  dew,  as  the  small  rain  upon  the  ten- 
der herb,  and  as  the  showers  upon  the  grass  : 
because  I  will  publish  the  name  of  the  Lord  : 
ascribe  ye  greatness  unto  our  God.  He  is 
the  Rock,  his  work  is  perfect :  for  all  his 
ways  are  judgment  :  a  God  of  truth  and 
without  iniquity,  just  and  right  is  he.  They 
have  corrupted  themselves,  their  spot  is  not 
the  spot  of  his  children  :  they  are  a  perverse 
and  crooked  generation.  Do  ye  thus  requite 
the  Lord,  O  foolish  people  and  unwise?  is 
not  he  thy  father  that  hath  bought  thee? 
hath  he  not  made  thee,  and  established  thee  ? 
Remember  the  days  of  old,  consider  the 
years  of  many  generations  :  ask  thy  father, 
and  he  will  shew  thee  ;  thy  elders,  and  they 
will  tell  thee.  When  the  Most  High  divided 
to  the  nations  their  inheritance,  when  he 
separated  the  sons  of  Adam,  he  set  the 
bounds  of  the  people  according  to  the  num- 
ber of  the  children  of  Israel.  For  the  Lord's 
portion  is  his  people  ;  Jacob  is  the  lot  of  his 
inheritance.     He  found  him  in  a  desert  land, 


120  BIBLE  GEMS. 

and  in  the  waste  howling  wilderness  ;  he  led 
him  about,  he  instructed  him,  he  kept  him 
as  the  apple  of  his  eye.  As  an  eagle  stir- 
reth  up  her  nest,  fluttereth  over  her  young, 
spreadeth  abroad  her  wings,  taketh  them, 
beareth  them  on  her  wings  :  so  the  Lord 
alone  did  lead  him,  and  there  was  no  strange 
god  with  him.  He  made  him  ride  on  the 
high  places  of  the  earth,  that  he  might  eat 
the  increase  of  the  fields  ;  and  he  made  him 
to  suck  honey  out  of  the  rock,  and  oil  out  of 
the  flinty  rock  ;  butter  of  kine,  and  milk  of 
sheep,  with  fat  of  lambs,  and  rams  of  the 
breed  of  Bashan,  and  goats,  with  the  fat  of 
kidneys  of  wheat ;  and  thou  di'dst  drink  the 
pure  blood  of  the  grape.  But  Jeshurun 
waxed  fat,  and  kicked  :  thou  art  waxen  fat, 
thou  art  grown  thick,  thou  art  covered  with 
fatness  ;  then  he  forsook  God  which  made 
him,  and  lightly  esteemed  the  Rock  of  his 
salvation.  They  provoked  him  to  jealousy 
with  strange  gods,  with  abominations  pro- 
voked they  him  to  anger.  They  sacrificed 
unto  devils,  not  to  God  ;  to  gods  whom  they 
knew  not,  to  new  gods  that  came  newly  up, 
whom  your  fathers  feared  not.  Of  the  Rock 
that  begat  thee  thou  art  unmindful,  and  hast 
forgotten  God  that  formed  thee.  And  when 
the  Lord  saw  it,  he  abhorred  them,  because 
of  the  provoking  of  his  sons,  and  of  his 
daughters.  And  he  said,  I  will  hide  my  face 
from  them,  I  will  see  what  their  end  shall 
be  :  for  they  are  a  very  froward  generation, 


BIBLE  GEMS.  121 

children  in  whom  is  no  faith.  They  have 
moved  me  to  jealousy  with  that  which  is  not 
God  ;  they  have  provoked  me  to  anger  with 
their  vanities :  and  I  will  move  them  to 
jealousy  with  those  which  are  not  a  people  ; 
I  will  provoke  them  to  anger  with  a  foolish 
nation.  For  a  fire  is  kindled  in  mine  anger, 
and  shall  burn  unto  the  lowest  hell,  and 
shall  consume  the  earth  with  her  increase, 
and  set  on  fire  the  foundations  of  the  mount- 
ains. I  will  heap  mischiefs  upon  them  ;  I 
will  spend  my  arrows  upon  them.  They 
shall  be  burnt  with  hunger,  and  devoured 
with  burning  heat,  and  with  bitter  destruc- 
tion :  I  will  also  send  the  teeth  of  beasts 
upon  them,  with  the  poison  of  serpents  of 
the  dust.  The  sword  without,  and  terror 
within,  shall  destroy  both  the  young  man 
and  the  virgin,  the  suckling  also  with  the 
man  of  gray  hairs.  I  said,  I  would  scatter 
them  into  corners,  I  would  make  the  remem- 
brance of  them  to  cease  from  among  men  : 
were  it  not  that  I  feared  the  wrath  of  the 
enemy,  lest  their  adversaries  should  behave 
themselves  strangely,  and  lest  they  should 
say,  Our  hand  is  high,  and  the  Lord  hath 
not  done  all  this.  For  they  are  a  nation 
void  of  counsel,  neither  is  there  any  under- 
standing in  them.  O  that  they  were  wise, 
that  they  understood  this,  that  they  would 
consider  their  latter  end  !  How  should  one 
chase  a  thousand,  and  two  put  ten  thousand 
to  flight,  except  their  Rock  had  sold  them, 


122  BIBLE  GEMS. 

and  the  Lord  had  shut  them  up  ?  For  their 
rock  is  not  as  our  Rock,  even  our  enemies 
themselves  being  judges.  For  their  vine  is  of 
the  vine  of  Sodom,  and  of  the  fields  of  Go- 
morrah :  their  grapes  are  grapes  of  gall, 
their  clusters  are  bitter  :  their  wine  is  the 
poison  of  dragons,  and  the  cruel  venom  of 
asps.  Is  not  this  laid  up  in  store  with  me, 
and  sealed  up  among  my  treasures  ?  To  me 
belongeth  vengeance,  and  recompense  ;  their 
foot  shall  slide  in  due  time  :  for  the  day  of 
their  calamity  is  at  hand,  and  the  things 
that  shall  come  upon  them  make  haste.  For 
the  Lord  shall  judge  his  people,  and  repent 
himself  for  his  servants,  when  he  seeth  that 
their  power  is  gone,  and  there  is  none  shut 
up,  or  left.  And  he  shall  say,  Where  are 
their  gods,  their  rock  in  whom  they  trusted, 
which  did  eat  the  fat  of  their  sacrifices,  and 
drank  the  wine  of  their  drink  offerings?  let 
them  rise  up  and  help  you,  and  be  your  pro- 
tection. See  now  that  I,  even  I,  am  he,  and 
there  is  no  god  with  me  :  I  kill,  and  I  make 
alive  ;  I  wound,  and  I  heal :  neither  is  there 
any  that  can  deliver  out  of  my  hand.  For  I 
lift  up  my  hand  to  heaven,  and  say,  I  live 
for  ever.  If  I  whet  my  glittering  sword, 
and  mine  hand  take  hold  on  judgment ;  I 
will  render  vengeance  to  mine  enemies,  and 
will  reward  them  that  hate  me.  I  will  make 
mine  arrows  drunk  with  blood,  and  my 
sword  shall  devour  flesh  ;  and  that  with  the 
blood  of  the  slain  and  of  the  captives,  from 


BIBLE  GEMS.  123 

the  beginning  of  revenges  upon  the  enemy. 
Rejoice,  O  ye  nations,  with  his  people : 
for  he  will  avenge  the  blood  of  his  serv- 
ants, and  will  render  vengeance  to  his  adver- 
saries, and  will  be  merciful  unto  his  land, 
and  to  his  people. — DeuT.  xxxii.  1-43. 

Deborah  and  Barak's  Song.  Then  sang 
Deborah  and  Barak  the  son  of  Abinoam  on 
that  day,  saying,  Praise  ye  the  Lord  for  the 
avenging  of  Israel,  when  the  people  willingly 
offered  themselves.  Hear,  O  ye  kings  ;  give 
ear,  O  ye  princes  ;  I,  even  I,  will  sing  unto 
the  Lord  ;  I  will  sing  praise  to  the  Lord  God 
of  Israel.  Lord,  when  thou  wentest  out  of 
Seir,  when  thou  marchedst  out  of  the  field  of 
Edom,  the  earth  trembled,  and  the  heavens 
dropped,  the  clouds  also  dropped  water.  The 
mountains  melted  from  before  the  Lord,  even 
that  Sinai  from  before  the  Lord  God  of  Is- 
rael. In  the  days  of  Shamgar  the  son  of 
Anath,  in  the  days  of  Jael,  the  highways 
were  unoccupied,  and  the  travellers  walked 
through  byways.  The  inhabitants  of  the 
villages  ceased,  they  ceased  in  Israel,  until 
that  I  Deborah  arose,  that  I  arose  a  mother 
in  Israel.  They  chose  new  gods  ;  then  was 
war  in  the  gates  :  was  there  a  shield  or  spear 
seen  among  forty  thousand  in  Israel  ?  My 
heart  is  toward  the  governors  of  Israel,  that 
offered  themselves  willingly  among  the  peo- 
ple. Bless  ye  the  Lord.  Speak,  ye  that  ride 
on  white  asses,  ye  that  sit  in  judgment,  and 


]  '!  BIBLE  GEMS. 

walk  by  the  way.  They  that  are  deli, 
from  the  noise  of  archers  in  the  places  of 
drawing  water,  there  shall  they  rehearse  the 
righteous  acts  of  the  Lord,  even  the  right- 
eous acts  toward  the  inhabitants  of  his  vil- 
lages in  Israel  :  then  shall  the  people  of  the 
Lord  go  down  to  the  gates.  Awake,  awake, 
Deborah  :  awake,  awake,  utter  a  song  :  arise, 
Barak,  and  lead  thy  captivity  captive,  thou 
son  of  Abinoam.  Then  he  made  him  that 
remaineth  have  dominion  over  the  nobles 
among  the  people  :  the  Lord  made  me  have 
dominion  over  the  mighty.  Out  of  Ephraim 
was  there  a  root  of  them  against  Amalek  ; 
after  thee,  Benjamin,  among  thy  people  ;  out 
of  Machir  came  down  governors,  out  of  Zeb- 
ulun  they  that  handle  the  pen  of  the  writer. 
And  the  princes  of  Issachar  were  with  Debo- 
rah ;  even  Issachar,  and  also  Barak  :  he  was 
sent  on  foot  into  the  valley.  For  the  divi- 
sions of  Reuben  there  were  great  thoughts 
of  heart.  Why  abodest  thou  among  the 
sheepfolds,  to  hear  the  bleetings  of  the 
flocks?  For  the  divisions  of  Reuben  there 
were  great  searchings  of  heart.  Gilead 
abode  beyond  Jordan  :  and  why  did  Dan  re- 
main in  ships  ?  Asher  continued  on  the  sea 
shore,  and  abode  in  his  breaches.  Zebulun 
and  Naphtali  were  a  people  that  jeoparded 
their  lives  unto  the  death  in  the  high  places 
of  the  field.  The  kings  came  and  fought  ; 
then  fought  the  kings  of  Canaan  in  Taanach 
by   the   waters   of  Megiddo ;   they  took    no 


BIBLE  GEMS.  125 

gain  of  money.  They  fought  from  heaven  ; 
the  stars  in  their  courses  fought  against 
Sisera.  The  river  of  Kishon  swept  them 
away,  that  ancient  river,  the  river  Kishon. 
O  my  soul,  thou  hast  trodden  down  strength. 
Then  were  the  horsehoofs  broken  by  the 
means  of  the  prancings,  the  prancings  of 
their  mighty  ones.  Curse  ye  Meroz,  said 
the  angel  of  the  Lord,  curse  ye  bitterly  the 
inhabitants  thereof  ;  because  they  came  not 
to  the  help  of  the  Lord,  to  the  help  of  the 
Lord  against  the  mighty.  Blessed  above 
women  shall  Jael,  the  wife  of  Heber  the 
Kenite  be  ;  blessed  shall  she  be  above 
women  in  the  tent.  He  asked  water,  and 
she  gave  him  milk ;  she  brought  forth 
butter  in  a  lordly  dish.  She  put  her  hand  to 
the  nail,  and  her  right  hand  to  the  work- 
men's hammer ;  and  with  the  hammer  she 
smote  Sisera,  she  smote  off  his  head,  when 
she  had  pierced  and  stricken  through  his 
temples.  At  her  feet  he  bowed,  he  fell,  he 
lay  down  :  at  her  feet  he  bowed,  he  fell : 
where  he  bowed,  there  he  fell  down  dead. 
The  mother  of  Sisera  looked  out  at  a  win- 
dow, and  cried  through  the  lattice,  Why  is 
his  chariot  so  long  in  coming  ?  why  tarry  the 
wheels  of  his  chariots?  Her  wise  ladies 
answered  her,  yea,  she  returned  answer  to 
herself,  Have  they  not  sped  ?  have  they  not 
divided  the  prey  ;  to  every  man  a  damsel  or 
two  ;  to  Sisera  a  prey  of  divers  colours,  a 
prey  of    divers  colours  of  needlework,    of 


126  BIBLE  GEMS. 

divers  colours  of  needlework  on  both  sides, 
meet  for  the  necks  of  them  that  take  the 
spoil  ?  So  let  all  thine  enemies  perish,  O 
Lord  :  but  let  them  that  love  him  be  as  the 
sun  when  he  goeth  forth  in  his  might.  And 
the  land  had  rest  forty  years. — Judges 
v.  1-31. 

Hannah's  Mother  Song.  And  Hannah 
prayed,  and  said,  My  heart  rejoiceth  in  the 
Lord,  mine  horn  is  exalted  in  the  Lord  ;  my 
mouth  is  enlarged  over  mine  enemies  ;  be- 
cause I  rejoice  in  thy  salvation.  There  is 
none  holy  as  the  Lord  :  for  there  is  none  be- 
sides thee  :  neither  is  there  any  rock  like  our 
God.  Talk  no  more  so  exceeding  proudly; 
let  not  arrogancy  come  out  of  your  mouth  : 
for  the  Lord  is  a  God  of  knowledge,  and  by 
him  actions  are  weighed.  The  bows  of  the 
mighty  men  are  broken,  and  they  that  stum- 
bled are  girded  with  strength.  They  that 
were  full  have  hired  out  themselves  for 
bread  ;  and  they  that  were  hungry  ceased  : 
so  ]that  ^the  barren  hath  borne  seven  ;  and 
she  that  hath  many  children  is  waxed  feeble. 
The  Lord  killeth,  and  maketh  alive  :  he 
bringeth  down  to  the  grave,  and  bringeth 
up.  The  Lord  maketh  poor,  and  maketh 
rich  :  he  bringeth  low,  and  lifteth  up.  He 
raiseth  up  the  poor  out  of  the  dust,  and  lift- 
eth up  the  beggar  from  the  dunghill,  to  set 
them  among  princes,  and  to  make  them  in- 
herit the  throne  of  glory  :  for  the  pillars  of 


BIBLE  GEMS.  127 

the  earth  are  the  Lord's,  and  he  hath  set  the 
world  upon  them.  He  will  keep  the  feet  of 
his  saints,  and  the  wicked  shall  be  silent  in 
darkness  ;  for  by  strength  shall  no  man  pre- 
vail. The  adversaries  of  the  Lord  shall  be 
broken  to  pieces  ;  out  of  heaven  shall  he 
thunder  upon  them  :  the  Lord  shall  judge 
the  ends  of  the  earth  ;  and  he  shall  give 
strength  unto  his  king,  and  exalt  the  horn 
of  his  anointed. — i  Sam.  ii.  i-io. 

The  Shepherd's  Song.  The  Lord  is  my 
shepherd  ;  I  shall  not  want.  He  maketh  me 
to  lie  down  in  green  pastures  :  he  leadeth  me 
beside  the  still  waters:  He  restoreth  my 
soul :  he  leadeth  me  in  the  paths  of  right- 
eousness for  his  name's  sake.  Yea,  though 
I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of 
death,  I  will  fear  no  evil  :  for  thou  art  with 
me  ;  thy  rod  and  thy  staff  they  comfort  me. 
Thou  preparest  a  table  before  me  in  the  pres- 
ence of  mine  enemies  :  thou  anointest  my 
head  with  oil  ;  my  cup  runneth  over.  Surely 
goodness  and  mercy  shall  follow  me  all  the 
days  of  my  life  :  and  I  will  dwell  in  the 
house  of  the  Lord  for  ever. — Ps.  xxiii.  1-6. 

A  Dedication  Song.  I  will  extol  thee,  O 
Lord  ;  for  thou  hast  lifted  me  up,  and  hast 
not  made  my  foes  to  rejoice  over  me.  O 
Lord  my  God,  I  cried  unto  thee,  and  thou 
hast  healed  me.  0  Lord,  thou  hast  brought 
up  my  soul  from  the  grave  :  thou  hast  kept 


128  BIBLE  GEMS. 

me  alive,  that  I  should  not  go  down  to  the 
pit.  Sing  unto  the  Lord,  O  ye  saints  of  his, 
and  give  thanks  at  the  remembrance  of  his 
holiness.  For  his  anger  endureth  but  a  mo- 
ment ;  in  his  favour  is  life  :  weeping  may 
endure  for  a  night,  but  joy  cometh  in  the 
morning.  And  in  my  prosperity  I  said,  I 
shall  never  be  moved.  Lord,  by  thy  favour 
thou  hast  made  my  mountain  to  stand 
strong  :  thou  didst  hide  thy  face,  and  I  was 
troubled.  I  cried  to  thee,  O  Lord  ;  and  unto 
the  Lord  I  made  supplication.  What  profit 
is  there  in  my  blood,  when  I  go  down  to  the 
pit  ?  Shall  the  dust  praise  thee  ?  shall  it  de- 
clare thy  truth  ?  Hear,  O  Lord,  and  have 
mercy  upon  me  :  Lord,  be  thou  my  helper. 
Thou  hast  turned  for  me  my  mourning  into 
dancing  :  thou  hast  put  off  my  sackcloth, 
and  girded  me  with  gladness  ;  to  the  end 
that  my  glory  may  sing  praise  to  thee,  and 
not  be  silent.  O  Lord  my  God,  I  will  give 
thanks  unto  thee  for  ever. — Ps.  xxx.  1-12. 

Two  Harvest  Songs.  Praise  waiteth  for 
thee,  O  God,  in  Zion  :  and  unto  thee  shall 
the  vow  be  performed.  O  thou  that  hearest 
prayer,  unto  thee  shall  all  flesh  come.  In- 
iquities prevail  against  me  :  as  for  our  trans- 
gressions, thou  shalt  purge  them  away. 
Blessed  is  the  man  whom  thou  choosest,  and 
causest  to  approach  unto  thee,  that  he  may 
dwell  in  thy  courts :  we  shall  be  satisfied 
with  the  goodness  of  thy  house,  even  of  thy 


BIBLE  GEMS.  129 

holy  temple.  By  terrible  things  in  righteous- 
ness wilt  thou  answer  us,  O  God  of  our  sal- 
vation ;  who  art  the  confidence  of  all  the 
ends  of  the  earth,  and  of  them  that  are  afar 
off  upon  the  sea  :  which  by  his  strength  set- 
teth  fast  the  mountains  ;  being  girded  with 
power  :  which  stilleth  the  noise  of  the  seas, 
the  noise  of  their  waves,  and  the  tumult  of 
the  people.  They  also  that  dwell  in  the 
uttermost  parts  are  afraid  at  thy  tokens  : 
thou  makest  the  outgoings  of  the  morning 
and  evening  to  rejoice.  Thou  visitest  the 
earth,  and  waterest  it :  thou  greatly  enrichest 
it  with  the  river  of  God,  which  is  full  of 
water  :  thou  preparest  them  corn,  when  thou 
hast  so  provided  for  it.  Thou  waterest  the 
ridges  thereof  abundantly  :  thou  settlest  the 
furrows  thereof  :  thou  makest  it  soft  with 
showers  :  thou  blessest  the  springing  thereof. 
Thou  crownest  the  year  with  thy  goodness  ; 
and  thy  paths  drop  fatness.  They  drop  up- 
on the  pastures  of  the  wilderness  :  and  the 
little  hills  rejoice  on  every  side.  The  pas- 
tures are  clothed  with  flocks  ;  the  valleys 
also  are  covered  over  with  corn  ;  they  shout 
for  joy,  they  also  sing.  .  .  .  Sing  unto  the 
Lord  with  thanksgiving ;  sing  praise  upon 
the  harp  unto  our  God  :  who  covereth  the 
heaven  with  clouds,  who  prepareth  rain  for 
the  earth,  who  maketh  grass  to  grow  upon 
the  mountains.  He  giveth  to  the  beast  his 
food,  and  to  the  young  ravens  which  cry. 
He   delighteth   not   in   the  strength  of   the 


130  BIBLE  GEMS. 

horse  :  he  takelh  not  pleasure  in  the  legs  of 
a  man.  The  Lord  taketh  pleasure  in  them 
that  fear  him,  in  those  that  hope  in  his  mercy. 
Praise  the  Lord,  O  Jerusalem  ;  praise  thy 
God,  O  Zion.  For  he  hath  strengthened  the 
bars  of  thy  gates  ;  he  hath  blessed  thy  chil- 
dren within  thee.  He  maketh  peace  in  thy 
borders,  and  filleth  thee  with  the  finest  of 
the  wheat. — Ps.  lxv.  1-13  ;   cxlvii.  7-14. 

The  Naturalist's  Song.  Bless  the  Lord, 
O  my  soul.  O  Lord  my  God,  thou  art  very 
great  ;  thou  art  clothed  with  honour  and 
majesty  :  who  coverest  thyself  with  light 
as  with  a  garment  :  who  stretchest  out 
the  heavens  like  a  curtain :  who  layeth 
the  beams  of  his  chambers  in  the  waters  : 
who  maketh  the  clouds  his  chariot :  who 
walketh  upon  the  wings  of  the  wind  :  who 
maketh  his  angels  spirits  ;  his  ministers  a 
flaming  fire  :  who  laid  the  foundations  of  the 
earth,  that  it  should  not  be  removed  for  ever. 
Thou  coveredst  it  with  the  deep  as  with  a 
garment :  the  waters  stood  above  the  mount- 
ains. At  thy  rebuke  they  fled  ;  at  the  voice 
of  thy  thunder  they  hasted  away.  They 
go  up  by  the  mountains  ;  they  go  down  by 
the  valleys  unto  the  place  which  thou  hast 
founded  for  them!  Thou  hast  set  a  bound 
that  they  may  not  pass  over ;  that  they 
turn  not  again  to  cover  the  earth.  He  send- 
eth  the  springs  into  the  valleys,  which  run 
among  the  hills.     They  give  drink  to  every 


BIBLE  GEMS.  131 

beast  of  the  field  :  the  wild  asses  quench 
their  thirst.  By  them  shall  the  fowls  of  the 
heaven  have  their  habitation,  which  sing 
among  the  branches.  He  watereth  the  hills 
from  his  chambers:  the  earth  is  satisfied  with 
the  fruit  of  thy  works.  He  causeth  the  grass 
to  grow  for  the  cattle,  and  herb  for  the  serv- 
ice of  man  :  that  he  may  bring  forth  food  out 
of  the  earth  ;  and  wine  that  maketh  glad  the 
heart  of  man,  and  oil  to  make  his  face  to 
shine,  and  bread  which  strengtheneth  man's 
heart.  The  trees  of  the  Lord  are  full  of 
sap  ;  the  cedars  of  Lebanon,  which  he  hath 
planted  ;  where  the  birds  make  their  nests  : 
as  for  the  stork,  the  fir  trees  are  her  house. 
The  high  hills  are  a  refuge  for  the  wild 
goats  ;  and  the  rocks  for  the  conies.  He  ap- 
pointed the  moon  for  seasons  :  the  sun 
knoweth  his  going  down.  Thou  makest 
darkness,  and  it  is  night  :  wherein  all  the 
beasts  of  the  forest  do  creep  forth.  The 
young  lions  roar  after  their  prey,  and  seek 
their  meat  from  God.  The  sun  ariseth,  they 
gather  themselves  together,  and  lay  them 
down  in  their  dens.  Man  goeth  forth  unto 
his  work  and  to  his  labour  until  the  evening. 
O  Lord,  how  manifold  are  thy  works  !  in 
wisdom  hast  thou  made  them  all :  the  earth 
is  full  of  thy  riches.  So  is  this  great  and 
wide  sea,  wherein  are  things  creeping  innu- 
merable, both  small  and  great  beasts.  There 
go  the  ships  :  there  is  that  leviathan,  whom 
thou  hast  made  to  play  therein.  These  wait  all 


132  BIBLE  GEMS. 

upon  thee  ;  that  thou  mayest  give  them  meat 
iu  due  season.  That  thou  givest  them  they 
gather  :  thou  openest  thine  hand,  they  are 
filled  with  good.  Thou  hidest  thy  face,  they 
are  troubled  :  thou  takest  away  their  breath, 
they  die,  and  return  to  their  dust.  Thou 
sendest  forth  thy  spirit,  they  are  created  : 
and  thou  renewest  the  face  of  the  earth.  The 
glory  of  the  Lord  shall  endure  for  ever  :  the 
Lord  shall  rejoice  in  his  works.  He  looketh 
on  the  earth,  and  it  trembleth  :  he  toucheth 
the  hills,  and  they  smoke.  I  will  sing  unto 
the  Lord  as  long  as  I  live  :  I  will  sing  praise 
to  my  God  while  I  have  my  being.  My 
meditation  of  him  shall  be  sweet  :  I  will  be 
glad  in  the  Lord.  Let  the  sinners  be  con- 
sumed out  of  the  earth,  and  let  the  wicked 
be  no  more.  Bless  thou  the  Lord,  O  my 
soul.     Praise  ye  the  Lord. — Ps.  civ.  1-35. 

A  Divine  Praise  Song.  Not  unto  us,  O 
Lord,  not  unto  us,  but  unto  thy  name  give 
glory,  for  thy  mercy,  and  for  thy  truth's 
sake.  Wherefore  should  the  heathen  say, 
Where  is  now  their  God  ?  But  our  God  is  in 
the  heavens  :  he  hath  done  whatsoever  he 
hath  pleased.  Their  idols  are  silver  and 
gold,  the  work  of  men's  hands.  They  have 
mouths,  but  they  speak  not :  eyes  have  they, 
but  they  see  not :  they  have  ears,  but  they 
hear  not :  noses  have  they,  but  they  smell 
not :  they  have  hands,  but  they  handle  not  : 
feet  have  they,  but  they  walk  not  :  neither 


BIBLE  GEMS.  133 

speak  they  through  their  throat.  They  that 
make  them  are  like  unto  them  ;  so  is  every 
one  that  trusteth  in  them.  O  Israel,  trust 
thou  in  the  Lord  :  he  is  their  help  and  their 
shield.  O  house  of  Aaron,  trust  in  the  Lord  : 
he  is  their  help  and  their  shield.  Ye  that 
fear  the  Lord,  trust  in  the  Lord  :  he  is  their 
help  and  their  shield.  The  Lord  hath  been 
mindful  of  us  :  he  will  bless  us ;  he  will 
bless  the  house  of  Israel  ;  he  will  bless  the 
house  of  Aaron.  He  will  bless  them  that 
fear  the  Lord,  both  small  and  great.  The 
Lord  shall  increase  you  more  and  more,  you 
and  your  children.  Ye  are  blessed  of  the 
Lord  which  made  heaven  and  earth.  The 
heaven,  even  the  heavens,  are  the  Lord's  : 
but  the  earth  hath  he  given  to  the  children 
of  men.  The  dead  praise  not  the  Lord, 
neither  any  that  go  down  into  silence.  But 
we  will  bless  the  Lord  from  this  time  forth 
and  for  evermore.  Praise  the  Lord. — Ps. 
cxv.  1-18. 

A  Freedman's  Song.  When  the  Lord 
turned  again  the  captivity  of  Zion,  we  were 
like  them  that  dream.  Then  was  our  mouth 
filled  with  laughter,  and  our  tongue  with 
singing  :  then  said  they  among  the  heathen, 
The  Lord  hath  done  great  things  for  them. 
The  Lord  hath  done  great  things  for  us ; 
whereof  we  are  glad.  Turn  again  our  cap- 
tivity, O  Lord,  as  the  streams  in  the  south. 
They  that  sow  in  tears  shall  reap  in  joy.    He 


134  BIBLE  GEMS. 

that  goeth  forth  and  weepeth,  bearing  pre- 
cious seed,  shall  doubtless  come  again  with 
rejoicing,  bringing  his  sheaves  with  him. — 
Ps.  cxxvi.  1-6. 

An  Unsung  Song.  By  the  rivers  of  Bab- 
ylon, there  we  sat  down,  yea,  we  wept,  when 
we  remembered  Zion.  We  hanged  our  harps 
upon  the  willows  in  the  midst  thereof.  For 
there  they  that  carried  us  away  captive  re- 
quired of  us  a  song  ;  and  they  that  wasted  us 
required  of  us  mirth,  saying,  Sing  us  one  of 
the  songs  of  Zion.  How  shall  we  sing  the 
Lord's  song  in  a  strange  land  ?  If  I  forget 
thee,  O  Jerusalem,  let  my  right  hand  forget 
her  cunning.  If  I  do  not  remember  thee,  let 
my  tongue  cleave  to  the  roof  of  my  mouth  ; 
if  I  prefer  not  Jerusalem  above  my  chief  joy. 
Remember,  O  Lord,  the  children  of  Edom  in 
the  day  of  Jerusalem  ;  who  said,  Rase  it,  rase 
it,  even  to  the  foundation  thereof.  O  daugh- 
ter of  Babylon,  who  art  to  be  destroyed  ; 
happy  shall  he  be,  that  rewardeth  thee  as 
thou  hast  served  us.  Happy  shall  he  be, 
that  taketh  and  dasheth  thy  little  ones 
against  the  stones. — Ps.  cxxxvii.  1-9. 

An  Orchestral  Song.  Praise  ye  the  Lord. 
Praise  God  in  his  sanctuary  :  praise  him  in 
the  firmament  of  his  power.  Praise  him  for 
his  mighty  acts  :  praise  him  according  to  his 
excellent  greatness.  Praise  him  with  the 
sound  of  the  trumpet  :  praise  him  with  the 


BIBLE  GEMS.  135 

psaltery  and  harp.  Praise  him  with  the  tim- 
brel and  dance  :  praise  him  with  stringed 
instruments  and  organs.  Praise  him  upon 
the  loud  cymbals  :  praise  him  upon  the  high 
sounding  cymbals.  Let  every  thing  that  hath 
breath  praise  the  Lord.  Praise  ye  the  Lord. 
— PS.  cl.  1-6. 

Mary's  Song.  And  Mary  said,  My  soul 
doth  magnify  the  Lord,  and  my  spirit  hath 
rejoiced  in  God  my  Saviour.  For  he  hath 
regarded  the  low  estate  of  his  handmaiden  : 
for,  behold,  from  henceforth  all  generations 
shall  call  me  blessed.  For  he  that  is  mighty 
hath  done  to  me  great  things  ;  and  holy  is 
his  name.  And  his  mercy  is  on  them  that 
fear  him  from  generation  to  generation.  He 
hath  shewed  strength  with  his  arm  ;  he  hath 
scattered  the  proud  in  the  imagination  of 
their  hearts.  He  hath  put  down  the  mighty 
from  their  seats,  and  exalted  them  of  low 
degree.  He  hath  filled  the  hungry  with  good 
things  ;  and  the  rich  he  hath  sent  empty 
away.  He  hath  holpen  his  servant  Israel, 
in  remembrance  of  his  mercy ;  as  he  spake 
to  our  fathers,  to  Abraham,  and  to  his  seed 
for  ever. — Luke  i.  46-55. 

Zacharias'  Song.  Blessed  be  the  Lord 
God  of  Israel  ;  for  he  hath  visited  and  re- 
deemedj  his  people,  and  hath  raised  up  a 
horn  of  salvation  for  us  in  the  house  of  his 
servant  David  ;  as  he  spake  by  the  mouth  of 


136  BIBLE  GEMS. 

his  holy  prophets,  which  have  been  since  the 
world  began  :  that  we  should  be  saved  from 
our  enemies,  and  from  the  hand  of  all  that 
hate  us  ;  to  perform  the  mercy  promised  to 
our  fathers,  and  to  remember  his  holy  cove- 
nant ;  the  oath  which  he  sware  to  our  father 
Abraham,  that  he  would  grant  unto  us,  that 
we,  being  delivered  out  of  the  hand  of  our 
enemies,  might  serve  him  without  fear,  in 
holiness  and  righteousness  before  him,  all 
the  days  of  our  life.  And  thou,  child,  shalt 
be  called  the  prophet  of  the  Highest :  for 
thou  shalt  go  before  the  face  of  the  Lord  to 
prepare  his  ways  ;  to  give  knowledge  of  sal- 
vation unto  his  people  by  the  remission  of 
their  sins,  through  the  tender  mercy  of  our 
God  ;  whereby  the  dayspring  from  on  high 
hath  visited  us,  to  give  light  to  them  that 
sit  in  darkness  and  in  the  shadow  of  death, 
to  guide  our  feet  into  the  way  of  peace. — 
Luke  i.  68-79. 

The  Angels'  Song.  And,  lo,  the  angel  of 
the  Lord  came  upon  them,  and  the  glory  of 
the  Lord  shone  round  about  them  ;  and  they 
were  sore  afraid.  And  the  angel  said  unto 
them,  Fear  not  :  for,  behold,  I  bring  you 
good  tidings  of  great  joy,  which  shall  be  to 
all  people.  For  unto  you  is  born  this  day  in 
the  city  of  David  a  Saviour,  which  is  Christ 
the  Lord.  And  this  shall  be  a  sign  unto  you  ; 
Ye  shall  find  the  babe  wrapped  in  swaddling 
clothes,  lying  in  a  manger.     And  suddenly 


BIBLE  GEMS.  137 

there  was  with  the  angel  a  multitude  of  the 
heavenly  host  praising  God,  and  saying, 
Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on  earth 
peace,  good  will  toward  men. — Luke  ii.  9-14. 

The  New  Song  of  Heaven.  And  I  beheld, 
and,  lo,  in  the  midst  of  the  throne  and  of 
the  four  beasts,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  eld- 
ers, stood  a  Lamb  as  it  had  been  slain,  hav- 
ing seven  horns  and  seven  eyes,  which  are 
the  seven  Spirits  of  God  sent  forth  into  all 
the  earth.  And  he  came  and  took  the  book 
out  of  the  right  hand  of  him  that  sat  upon 
the  throne.  And  when  he  had  taken  the 
book,  the  four  beasts  and  the  four  and  twenty 
elders  fell  down  before  the  Lamb,  having 
every  one  of  them  harps,  and  golden  vials 
full  of  odours,  which  are  the  prayers  of 
saints.  And  they  sung  a  new  song,  saying, 
Thou  art  worthy  to  take  the  book,  and  to 
open  the  seals  thereof  :  for  thou  wast  slain, 
and  hast  redeemed  us  to  God  by  thy  blood 
out  of  every  kindred,  and  tongue,  and  peo- 
ple, and  nation  ;  and  hast  made  us  unto  our 
God  kings  and  priests  :  and  we  shall  reign 
on  the  earth.  And  I  beheld,  and  I  heard 
the  voice  of  many  angels  round  about  the 
throne,  and  the  beasts,  and  the  elders  :  and 
the  number  of  them  was  ten  thousand  times 
ten  thousand,  and  thousands  of  thousands  ; 
saying  with  a  loud  voice,  Worthy  is  the 
Lamb  that  was  slain  to  receive  power,  and 
riches,  and  wisdom,  and  strength,  and  hon- 


138  BIBLE  GEMS. 

our,  and  glory,  and  blessing.  And  every 
creature  which  is  in  heaven,  and  on  the 
earth,  and  under  the  earth,  and  such  as 
are  in  the  sea,  and  all  that  are  in  them, 
heard  I  saying,  Blessing,  and  honour,  and 
glory,  and  power,  be  unto  hirn  that  sitteth 
upon  the  throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb  for 
ever  and  ever.  And  the  four  beasts  said, 
Amen.  And  the  four  and  twenty  elders  fell 
down  and  worshipped  him  that  liveth  for 
ever  and  ever. — Rev.  v.  6-14. 

[Besides  these,  the  whole  Book  of  Psalms 
bears  reading  and  study  as  containing  fine 
specimens  of  lyric  poetry.] 


CHAPTER  IX. 

SPEECH   IN  DIALOGUE  FORM. 

Between  the  Lord  and  Adam  and  Eve. 
And  they  heard  the  voice  of  the  Lord  God 
walking-  in  the  garden  in  the  cool  of  the  day  : 
and  Adam  and  his  wife  hid  themselves  from 
the  presence  of  the  Lord  God  amongst  the 
trees  of  the  garden.  And  the  Lord  God 
called  unto  Adam,  and  said  unto  him,  Where 
art  thou  ?  And  he  said,  I  heard  thy  voice  in 
the  garden,  and  I  was  afraid,  because  I  was 
naked  ;  and  I  hid  myself.  And  he  said, 
Who  told  thee  that  thou  wast  naked  ?  Hast 
thou  eaten  of  the  tree,  whereof  I  commanded 
thee  that  thou  shouldest  not  eat  ?  And  the 
man  said,  The  woman  whom  thou  gavest  to 
be  with  me,  she  gave  me  of  the  tree,  and  I 
did  eat.  And  the  Lord  God  said  unto  the 
woman,  What  is  this  that  thou  hast  done? 
And  the  woman  said,  The  serpent  beguiled 
me,  and  I  did  eat. — Gen.  iii.  8-13. 

Between  the  Lord  and  Cain.  And  the 
Lord  said  unto  Cain,  Why  art  thou  wroth? 
and  why  is  thy  countenance  fallen  ?  If  thou 
doest  well,  shalt  thou  not  be  accepted  ?  and 
if  thou  doest  not  well,  sin  lieth  at  the  door  : 
and  unto  thee  shall  be  his  desire,  and  thou 
shalt  rule  over  him.  And  Cain  talked  with 
(139) 


140  BIBLE  GEMS. 

Abel  his  brother  :  and  it  came  to  pass,  when 
they  were  in  the  field,  that  Cain  rose  up 
against  Abel  his  brother,  and  slew  him.  And 
the  Lord  said  unto  Cain,  Where  is  Abel  thy 
brother  ?  And  he  said,  I  know  not :  Am  I 
my  brother's  keeper?  And  he  said,  What 
hast  thou  done?  the  voice  of  thy  brother's 
blood  crieth  unto  me  from  the  ground.  And 
,  now  art  thou  cursed  from  the  earth,  which 
hath  opened  her  mouth  to  receive  thy 
brother's  blood  from  thy  hand.  When  thou 
tillest  the  ground,  it  shall  not  henceforth 
yield  unto  thee  her  strength  ;  a  fugitive  and 
a  vagabond  shalt  thou  be  in  the  earth.  And 
Cain  said  unto  the  Lord,  My  punishment  is 
greater  than  I  can  bear.  Behold,  thou  hast 
driven  me  out  this  day  from  the  face  of  the 
earth  ;  and  from  thy  face  shall  I  be  hid  ;  and 
1  shall  be  a  fugitive  and  a  vagabond  in  the 
earth  ;  and  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  every 
one  that  findeth  me  shall  slay  me.  And  the 
Lord  said  unto  him,  Therefore  whosoever 
slayeth  Cain,  vengeance  shall  be  taken  on 
him  sevenfold.  And  the  Lord  set  a  mark 
upon  Cain,  lest  any  finding  him  should  kill 
him.— Gen.  iv.  6-15. 

Between  the  Lord  and  Abraham.  And 
Abraham  drew  near,  and  said,  Wilt  thou  also 
destroy  the  righteous  with  the  wicked  ?  Per- 
adventure  there  be  fifty  righteous  within  the 
city  :  wilt  thou  also  destroy  and  not  spare 
the   place  for  the  fifty   righteous  that   are 


BIBLE  GEMS.  141 

therein  ?  That  be  far  from  thee  to  do  after 
this  manner,  to  slay  the  righteous  with  the 
wicked  ;  and  that  the  righteous  should  be  as 
the  wicked,  that  be  far  from  thee  :  Shall 
not  the  Judge  of  all  the  earth  do  right  ?  And 
the  Lord  said,  If  I  find  in  Sodom  fifty  right- 
eous within  the  city,  then  I  will  spare  all  the 
place  for  their  sakes.  And  Abraham  an- 
swered and  said,  Behold  now,  I  have  taken 
upon  me  to  speak  unto  the  Lord,  which  am 
but  dust  and  ashes  :  Peradventure  there  shall 
lack  five  of  the  fifty  righteous  :  wilt  thou 
destroy  all  the  city  for  lack  of  five  ?  And  he 
said,  If  I  find  there  forty  and  five,  I  will  not 
destroy  it.  And  he  spake  unto  him  yet 
again,  and  said,  Peradventure  there  shall  be 
forty  found  there.  And  he  said,  I  will  not 
do  it  for  forty's  sake.  And  he  said  unto 
him,  Oh  let  not  the  Lord  be  angry,  and  I  will 
speak  :  Peradventure  there  shall  thirty  be 
found  there.  And  he  said,  I  will  not  do  it, 
if  I  find  thirty  there.  And  he  said,  Behold 
now,  I  have  taken  upon  me  to  speak  unto 
the  Lord  :  Peradventure  there  shall  be 
twenty  found  there.  And  he  said,  I  will  not 
destroy  it  for  twenty's  sake.  And  he  said, 
Oh  let  not  the  Lord  be  angry,  and  I  will  speak 
yet  but  this  once  :  Peradventure  ten  shall  be 
found  there.  And  he  said,  I  will  not  destroy 
it  for  ten's  sake.  And  the  Lord  went  his 
way,  as  soon  as  he  had  left  communing 
with  Abraham  :  and  Abraham  returned  unto 
his  place. — Gen.  xviii.  23-33. 


142  BIBLE  GEMS. 

Between  the  Lord  and  Jacob.  And  Jacob 
was  left  alone  ;  and  there  wrestled  a  man 
with  him  until  the  breaking  of  the  day. 
And  when  he  saw  that  he  prevailed  not 
against  him,  he  touched  the  hollow  of  his 
thigh  ;  and  the  hollow  of  Jacob's  thigh  was 
out  of  joint,  as  he  wrestled  with  him.  And 
he  said,  Let  me  go,  for  the  day  breaketh. 
And  he  said,  I  will  not  let  thee  go,  except 
thou  bless  me.  And  he  said  unto  him,  What 
is  thy  name  ?  And  he  said,  Jacob.  And  he 
said,  Thy  name  shall  be  called  no  more 
Jacob,  but  Israel  :  for  as  a  prince  hast  thou 
power  with  God  and  with  men,  and  hast  pre- 
vailed. And  Jacob  asked  him,  and  said,  Tell 
me,  I  pray  thee,  thy  name.  And  he  said, 
Wherefore  is  it  that  thou  dost  ask  after  my 
name  ?  And  he  blessed  him  there.  And 
Jacob  called  the  name  of  the  place  Peniel  : 
for  I  have  seen  God  face  to  face,  and  my  life 
is  preserved. — Gun.  xxxii.  24-30. 

Between  Joseph  and  His  Brethren.  (Read 
Gen.  xlii.  3-24.) 

Between  the  Lord  and  Moses.  And  when 
the  Lord  saw  that  he  turned  aside  to  see, 
God  called  unto  him  out  of  the  midst  of  the 
bush,  and  said,  Moses,  Moses.  And  he  said, 
Here  am  I.  And  he  said,  Draw  not  nigh 
hither  :  put  off  thy  shoes  from  off  thy  feet ; 
for  the  place  whereon  thou  standest  is  holy 
ground.     Moreover  he  said,  I  am  the  God  of 


BIBLE  GEMS.  143 

thy  father,  the  God  of  Abraham,  the  God  of 
Isaac,  and  the  God  of  Jacob.  And  Moses 
hid  his  face  ;  for  he  was  afraid  to  look  upon 
God.  And  the  Lord  said,  I  have  surely  seen 
the  affliction  of  my  people  which  are  in 
Egypt,  and  have  heard  their  cry  by  reason 
of  their  taskmasters  ;  for  I  know  their  sor- 
rows ;  and  I  am  come  down  to  deliver  them 
out  of  the  hand  of  the  Egyptians,  and  to 
bring  them  up  out  of  that  land  unto  a  good 
land  and  a  large,  unto  a  land  flowing  with 
milk  and  honey  ;  unto  the  place  of  the  Ca- 
naanites,  and  the  Hittites,  and  the  Amorites, 
and  the  Perizzites,  and  the  Hivites,  and  the 
Jebusites.  Now  therefore,  behold,  the  cry 
of  the  children  of  Israel  is  come  unto  me  : 
and  I  have  also  seen  the  oppression  where- 
with the  Egyptians  oppress  them.  Come 
now  therefore,  and  I  will  send  thee  unto 
Pharaoh,  that  thou  may  est  bring  forth  my 
people  the  children  of  Israel  out  of  Egypt. 
And  Moses  said  unto  God,  Who  am  I,  that  I 
should  go  unto  Pharaoh,  and  that  I  should 
bring  forth  the  children  of  Israel  out  of 
Egypt?  And  he  said,  Certainly  I  will  be 
with  thee  ;  and  this  shall  be  a  token  unto 
thee,  that  I  have  sent  thee  :  When  thou  hast 
brought  forth  the  people  out  of  Egypt,  ye 
shall  serve  God  upon  this  mountain.  And 
Moses  said  unto  God,  Behold,  when  I  come 
unto  the  children  of  Israel,  and  shall  say 
unto  them,  The  God  of  your  fathers  hath 
sent  me  unto  you  ;  and  they  shall  say  to  me, 


144  BIBLE  GEMS. 

What  is  his  name?  what  shall  I  say  unto 
them?  And  God  said  unto  Moses,  I  AM 
THAT  I  AM  :  and  he  said,  Thus  shalt  thou 
say  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  I  AM  hath 
sent  me  unto  you. — Ex.  iii.  4-14. 


Between  the  Trees.  (A  Parable.)  And 
when  they  told  it  to  Jotham,  he  went  and 
stood  in  the  top  of  mount  Gerizim,  and  lifted 
up  his  voice,  and  cried,  and  said  unto  them, 
Hearken  unto  me,  ye  men  of  Shechem,  that 
God  may  hearken  unto  you.  The  trees  went 
forth  on  a  time  to  anoint  a  king  over  them  ; 
and  they  said  unto  the  olive  tree,  Reign 
thou  over  us.  But  the  olive  tree  said  unto 
them,  Should  I  leave  my  fatness,  wherewith 
by  me  they  honour  God  and  man,  and  go  to 
be  promoted  over  the  trees  ?  And  the  trees 
said  to  the  fig  tree,  Come  thou,  and  reign 
over  us.  But  the  fig  tree  said  unto  them, 
Should  I  forsake  my  sweetness,  and  my 
good  fruit,  and  go  to  be  promoted  over  the 
trees?  Then  said  the  trees  unto  the  vine, 
Come  thou,  and  reign  over  us.  And  the 
vine  said  unto  them,  Should  I  leave  my 
wine,  which  cheereth  God  and  man,  and  go 
to  be  promoted  over  the  trees  ?  Then  said 
all  the  trees  unto  the  bramble,  Come  thou, 
and  reign  over  us.  And  the  bramble  said 
unto  the  trees,  If  in  truth  ye  anoint  me  king 
over  you,  then  come  and  put  your  trust  in 
my  shadow  ;  and  if  not,  let  fire  come  out  of 


BIBLE  GEMS.  145 

the  bramble,  and  devour  the  cedars  of  Leb- 
anon.— Judges  ix.  7-15. 

Between  Samuel  and  Saul.  And  when 
Samuel  rose  early  to  meet  Saul  in  the  morn- 
ing, it  was  told  Samuel,  saying,  Saul  came 
to  Carmel,  and,  behold,  he  set  him  up  a 
place,  and  is  gone  about,  and  passed  on,  and 
gone  down  to  Gilgal.  And  Samuel  came  to 
Saul :  and  Saul  said  unto  him,  Blessed  be 
thou  of  the  Lord  :  I  have  performed  the 
commandment  of  the  Lord.  And  Samuel 
said,  What  meaneth  then  this  bleating  of  the 
sheep  in  mine  ears,  and  the  lowing  of  the 
oxen  which  I  hear?  And  Saul  said,  They 
have  brought  them  from  the  Amalekites  : 
for  the  people  spared  the  best  of  the  sheep 
and  of  the  oxen,  to  sacrifice  unto  the  Lord 
thy  God ;  and  the  rest  we  have  utterly  de- 
stroyed. Then  Samuel  said  unto  Saul,  Stay, 
and  I  will  tell  thee  what  the  Lord  hath  said 
to  me  this  night.  And  he  said  unto  him, 
Say  on.  And  Samuel  said,  When  thou  wast 
little  in  thine  own  sight,  wast  thou  not  made 
the  head  of  the  tribes  of  Israel,  and  the  Lord 
anointed  thee  king  over  Israel?  And  the 
Lord  sent  thee  on  a  journey,  and  said,  Go 
and  utterly  destroy  the  sinners  the  Amalek- 
ites, and  fight  against  them  until  they  be 
consumed.  Wherefore  then  didst  thou  not 
obey  the  voice  of  the  Lord,  but  didst  fly 
upon  the  spoil,  and  didst  evil  in  the  sight  of 
the  Lord?     And    Saul   said  unto  Samuel, 


140  BIBLE  GEMS. 

Yea,  I  have  obeyed  the  voice  of  the  Lord, 
and  have  goiie  the  way  which  the  Lord  sent 
me,  and  have  brought  Agag  the  king  of 
Amalek,  and  have  utterly  destroyed  the 
Amalekites.  But  the  people  took  of  the 
spoil,  sheep  and  oxen,  the  chief  of  the  things 
which  should  have  been  utterly  destroyed, 
to  sacrifice  unto  the  Lord  thy  God  in  Gilgal. 
And  Samuel  said,  Hath  the  Lord  as  great 
delight  in  burnt  offerings  and  sacrifices,  as 
in  obeying  the  voice  of  the  Lord  ?  Behold, 
to  obey  is  better  than  sacrifice,  and  to 
hearken  than  the  fat  of  rams.  For  rebellion 
is  as  the  sin  of  witchcraft,  and  stubbornness 
is  as  iniquity  and  idolatry.  Because  thou 
hast  rejected  the  word  of  the  Lord,  he  hath 
also  rejected  thee  from  being  king.  And 
Saul  said  unto  Samuel,  I  have  sinned  :  for  I 
have  transgressed  the  commandment  of  the 
Lord,  and  thy  words  :  because  I  feared  the 
people,  and  obeyed  their  voice.  Now  there- 
fore, I  pray  thee,  pardon  my  sin,  and  turn 
again  with  me,  that  I  may  worship  the  Lord. 
And  Samuel  said  unto  Saul,  I  will  not  re- 
turn with  thee  :  for  thou  hast  rejected  the 
word  of  the  Lord,  and  the  Lord  hath  rejected 
thee  from  being  king  over  Israel. — i  Sam. 
xv.  12-26. 

Between  Christ  and  Nicodemus.  There 
was  a  man  of  the  Pharisees,  named  Nicode- 
mus, a  ruler  of  the  Jews  :  the  same  came  to 
Jesus  by  night,  and  said  unto  him,  Rabbi, 


BIBLE  GEMS.  147 

we  know  that  thou  art  a  teacher  come  from 
God  :  for  no  man  can  do  these  miracles  that 
thou  doest,  except  God  be  with  him.  Jesus 
answered  and  said  unto  him,  Verily,  verily,  I 
say  unto  thee,  Except  a  man  be  born  again, 
he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God.  Nico- 
demus  saith  unto  him,  How  can  a  man  be 
born  when  he  is  old  ?  can  he  enter  the  sec- 
ond time  into  his  mother's  womb,  and  be 
born  ?  Jesus  answered,  Verily,  verily,  I  say 
unto  thee,  Except  a  man  be  born  of  water 
and  of  the  Spirit,  he  cannot  enter  into  the 
kingdom  of  God.  That  which  is  born  of  the 
flesh  is  flesh  ;  and  that  which  is  born  of  the 
Spirit  is  spirit.  Marvel  not  that  I  said  unto 
thee,  Ye  must  be  born  again.  The  wind 
bloweth  where  it  listeth,  and  thou  hearest 
the  sound  thereof,  but  canst  not  tell  whence 
it  cometh,  and  whither  it  goeth  :  so  is  every 
one  that  is  born  of  the  Spirit.  Nicodemus 
answered  and  said  unto  him,  How  can  these 
things  be?  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto 
him,  Art  thou  a  master  of  Israel,  and  know- 
est  not  these  things?  Verily,  verily,  I  say 
unto  thee,  We  speak  that  we  do  know,  and 
testify  that  we  have  seen  ;  and  ye  receive  not 
our  witness.  If  I  have  told  you  earthly 
things,  and  ye  believe  not,  how  shall  ye  be- 
lieve, if  I  tell  you  of  heavenly  things  ?  And 
no  man  hath  ascended  up  to  heaven,  but  he 
that  came  down  from  heaven,  even  the  Son 
of  man  which  is  in  heaven.  And  as  Moses 
lifted  up  the  serpent  in  the  wilderness,  even 


148  BIBLE  GEMS. 

so  must  the  Son  of  man  be  lifted  up  :  that 
whosoever  believeth  in  him  should  not  per- 
ish, but  have  eternal  life.  For  God  so  loved 
the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten 
Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should 
not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life.  For 
God  sent  not  his  Son  into  the  world  to  con- 
demn the  world  ;  but  that  the  world  through 
him  might  be  saved.  He  that  believeth  on  him 
is  not  condemned  :  but  he  that  believeth  not 
is  condemned  already,  because  he  hath  not 
believed  in  the  name  of  the  only  begotten  Son 
of  God.  And  this  is  the  condemnation,  that 
light  is  come  into  the  world,  and  men  loved 
darkness  rather  than  light,  because  their 
deeds  were  evil.  For  every  one  that  doeth 
evil  hateth  the  light,  neither  cometh  to  the 
light,  lest  his  deeds  should  be  reproved.  But 
he  that  doeth  truth  cometh  to  the  light,  that 
his  deeds  may  be  made  manifest,  that  they 
are  wrought  in  God. — John  iii.  1-21. 

Between  Christ  and  Samaritan  Woman. 
(Read  John  iv.  1-26.) 

Between  Christ  and  the  Lawyer.  And, 
behold,  a  certain  lawyer  stood  up,  and 
tempted  him,  saying,  Master,  what  shall  I 
do  to  inherit  eternal  life?  He  said  unto 
him,  What  is  written  in  the  law  ?  how  read- 
est  thou?  And  he  answering  said,  Thou 
shalt   love   the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy 


BIBLE  GEMS.  149 

heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all 
thy  strength,  and  with  all  thy  mind ;  and 
thy  neighbour  as  thyself.  And  he  said  unto 
him,  Thou  hast  answered  right :  this  do,  and 
thou  shalt  live.  But  he,  willing  to  justify 
himself,  said  unto  Jesus,  And  who  is  my 
neighbour?  And  Jesus  answering  said,  A 
certain  man  went  down  from  Jerusalem  to 
Jericho,  and  fell  among  thieves,  which 
stripped  him  of  his  raiment,  and  wounded 
him,  and  departed,  leaving  him  half  dead. 
And  by  chance  there  came  down  a  certain 
priest  that  way  ;  and  when  he  saw  him,  he 
passed  by  on  the  other  side.  And  likewise 
a  Levite,  when  he  was  at  the  place,  came 
and  looked  on  him,  and  passed  by  on  the 
other  side.  But  a  certain  Samaritan,  as  he 
journeyed,  came  where  he  was  ;  and  when 
he  saw  him,  he  had  compassion  on  him,  and 
went  to  him,  and  bound  up  his  wounds, 
pouring  in  oil  and  wine,  and  set  him  on  his 
own  beast,  and  brought  him  to  an  inn  and 
took  care  of  him.  And  on  the  morrow  when 
he  departed,  he  took  out  two  pence,  and 
gave  them  to  the  host,  and  said  unto  him, 
Take  care  of  him :  and  whatsoever  thou 
spendest  more,  when  I  come  again,  I  will 
repay  thee.  Which  now  of  these  three, 
thinkest  thou,  was  neighbour  unto  him  that 
fell  among  the  thieves?  And  he  said,  He 
that  shewed  mercy  on  him.  Then  said  Jesus 
unto  him,  Go,  and  do  thou  likewise. — Luke 
x.  25-37. 


150  BIBLE  GEMS. 

Between  Christ  and  Two  Disciples. 
(Read  Luke  xxiv.  13-32.) 

Between  Christ  and  Peter.  So  when  they 
had  dined,  Jesus  saith  to  Simon  Peter,  Simon, 
son  of  Jonas,  lovest  thou  me  more  than 
these  ?  He  saith  unto  him,  Yea,  Lord  ;  thou 
knowest  that  I  love  thee.  He  saith  unto 
him,  Feed  my  lambs.  He  saith  to  him  again 
the  second  time,  Simon,  son  of  Jonas,  lovest 
thou  me  ?  He  saith  unto  him,  Yea,  Lord  ; 
thou  knowest  that  I  love  thee.  He  saith 
unto  him,  Feed  my  sheep.  He  saith  unto 
him  the  third  time,  Simon,  son  of  Jonas, 
lovest  thou  me  ?  Peter  was  grieved  because 
he  said  unto  him  the  third  time,  Lovest  thou 
me  ?  And  he  said  unto  him,  Lord,  thou 
knowest  all  things  ;  thou  knowest  that  I 
love  thee.  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  Feed  my 
sheep.  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  When 
thou  wast  young,  thou  girdedst  thyself,  and 
walkedst  whither  thou  wouldest  :  but  when 
thou  shalt  be  old,  thou  shalt  stretch  forth 
thy  hands,  and  another  shall  gird  thee,  and 
carry  thee  whither  thou  wouldest  not.  This 
spake  he,  signifying  by  what  death  he  should 
glorify  God.  And  when  he  had  spoken  this, 
he  saith  unto  him,  Follow  me.  Then  Peter, 
turning  about,  seeth  the  disciple  whom  Jesus 
loved  following  ;  which  also  leaned  on  his 
breast  at  supper,  and  said,  Lord,  which  is 
he  that  betrayeth  thee  ?  Peter  seeing  him 
saith  to  Jesus,  Lord,  and  what  shall  this  man 


BIBLE  GEMS.  "151 

do?  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  If  I  will  that  he 
tarry  till  I  come,  what  is  that  to  thee  ?  fol- 
low thou  me. — John  xxi.  15-22. 

[Many  other  fine  specimens  are  found  all 
through  the  Scriptures.  Let  the  student 
look  for  them.] 


CHAPTER  X. 

WOMAN'S  GRACE   AND   WORTH. 

Eve,  Mother  of  Us  All,  or  Marriage  Insti- 
tuted. Thorns  also  and  thistles  shall  it  bring 
forth  to  thee  :  and  thou  shalt  eat  the  herb  of 
the  field  :  in  the  sweat  of  thy  face  shalt  thou 
eat  bread,  till  thou  return  unto  the  ground  ; 
for  out  of  it  wast  thou  taken  :  for  dust  thou 
art,  and  unto  dust  shalt  thou  return.  And 
Adam  called  his  wife's  name  Eve ;  because 
she  was  the  mother  of  all  living.  Unto  Adam 
also  and  to  his  wife  did  the  Lord  God  make 
coats  of  skins,  and  clothed  them.  And  the 
Lord  God  said,  Behold,  the  man  is  become  as 
one  of  us,  to  know  good  and  evil :  and  now, 
lest  he  put  forth  his  hand,  and  take  also  of  the 
tree  of  life,  and  eat,  and  live  for  ever  :  there- 
fore the  Lord  God  sent  him  forth  from  the  gar- 
den of  Eden,  to  till  the  ground  from  whence 
he  was  taken.  So  he  drove  out  the  man  : 
and  he  placed  at  the  east  of  the  garden  of 
Eden  cherubim,  and  a  naming  sword  which 
turned  every  way,  to  keep  the  way  of  the 
tree  of  life. — Gen.  iii.  18-24. 

Sarah,  Wife  of  Abraham.     And  God  said 

unto  Abraham,  As  for  Sarai  thy  wife,  thou 

shalt  not   call   her  name  Sarai,  but  Sarah 

shall  her  name  be.     And  I  will  bless  her, 

(152) 


BIBLE  GEMS.  153 

and  give  thee  a  son  also  of  her  :  yea,  I  will 
bless  her,  and  she  shall  be  a  mother  of  na- 
tions ;  kings  of  people  shall  be  of  her.  Then 
Abraham  fell  upon  his  face,  and  laughed, 
and  said  in  his  heart,  Shall  a  child  be  born 
unto  him  that  is  a  hundred  years  old  ?  and 
shall  Sarah,  that  is  ninety  years  old,  bear  ? — 
Gen.  xvii.  15-17. 

Rebekah,  Wife  of  Isaac.  And  it  came  to 
pass,  before  he  had  done  speaking,  that,  be- 
hold, Rebekah  came  out,  who  was  born  to 
Bethuel,  son  of  Milcah,  the  wife  of  Nahor, 
Abraham's  brother,  with  her  pitcher  upon 
her  shoulder.  And  the  damsel  was  very  fair 
to  look  upon,  a  virgin,  neither  had  any  man 
known  her  :  and  she  went  down  to  the  well, 
and  filled  her  pitcher,  and  came  up.  And 
the  servant  ran  to  meet  her,  and  said,  Let 
me,  I  pray  thee,  drink  a  little  water  of  thy 
pitcher.  And  she  said,  Drink,  my  lord  :  and 
she  hasted,  and  let  down  her  pitcher  upon 
her  hand,  and  gave  him  drink.  And  when 
she  had  done  giving  him  drink,  she  said,  I 
will  draw  water  for  thy  camels  also,  until 
they  are  done  drinking.  And  she  hasted, 
and  emptied  her  pitcher  into  the  trough, 
and  ran  again  unto  the  well  to  draw  water, 
and  drew  for  all  his  camels.  And  the  man 
wondering  at  her  held  his  peace,  to  wit 
whether  the  Lord  had  made  his  journey 
prosperous  or  not.  And  it  came  to  pass,  as 
the  camels    had    done  drinking,    that    the 


154  BIBLE  GEMS. 

man  took  a  golden  earring  of  half  a  shekel 
weight,  and  two  bracelets  for  her  hands  of 
ten  shekels  weight  of  gold  ;  and  said,  Whose 
daughter  art  thou  ?  tell  me,  I  pray  thee :  is 
there  room  in  thy  father's  house  for  us  to 
lodge  in  ?  And  she  said  unto  him,  I  am  the 
daughter  of  Bethuel  the  son  of  Milcah,  which 
she  bare  unto  Nahor.  She  said  moreover 
unto  him,  We  have  both  straw  and  proven- 
der enough,  and  room  to  lodge  in.  And  the 
man  bowed  down  his  head,  and  worshipped 
the  Lord.  And  he  said,  Blessed  be  the  Lord 
God  of  my  master  Abraham,  who  hath  not 
left  destitute  my  master  of  his  mercy  and 
his  truth  :  I  being  in  the  way,  the  Lord  led  me 
to  the  house  of  my  master's  brethren.  And 
the  damsel  ran,  and  told  them  of  her  moth- 
er's house  these  things. — Gen.  xxiv.  15-28. 

Leah  and  Rachel.  And  Laban  said  unto 
Jacob,  Because  thou  art  my  brother,  should- 
est  thou  therefore  serve  me  for  nought  ?  tell 
me,  what  shall  thy  wages  be  ?  And  Laban 
had  two  daughters :  the  name  of  the  elder 
was  Leah,  and  the  name  of  the  younger  was 
Rachel.  Leah  was  tender  eyed  ;  but  Rachel 
was  beautiful  and  well  favoured.  And  Jacob 
loved  Rachel ;  and  said,  I  will  serve  thee 
seven  years  for  Rachel  thy  younger  daugh- 
ter. And  Laban  said,  It  is  better  that  I  give 
her  to  thee,  than  that  I  should  give  her  to 
another  man  :  abide  with  me.  And  Jacob 
served  seven   years   for   Rachel  ;    and  they 


BIBLE  GEMS.  155 

seemed  unto  him  but  a  few  days,  for  the  love 
he  had  to  her. — GEN.  xxix.  15-20. 

Pharaoh's  Daughter  and  the  Mother  of 
Moses.     (Read  Ex.  ii.  1-10.) 

Miriam,  the  Sister  of  Moses.  And  Miriam 
the  prophetess,  the  sister  of  Aaron,  took  a 
timbrel  in  her  hand  ;  and  all  the  women  went 
out  after  her  with  timbrels  and  with  dances. 
And  Miriam  answered  them,  Sing  ye  to  the 
Lord,  for  he  hath  triumphed  gloriously  :  the 
horse  and  his  rider  hath  he  thrown  into  the 
sea. — Ex.  xv.  20,  21. 

Rahab,  who  Concealed  the  Spies.  (Read 
Joshua  ii.  1-24  ;  vi.  1-27.) 

Deborah  and  Jael.  And  Deborah,  a 
prophetess,  the  wife  of  Lapidoth,  she  judged 
Israel  at  that  time.  And  she  dwelt  under 
the  palm  tree  of  Deborah,  between  Ramah 
and  Beth-el  in  mount  Ephraim  :  and  the 
children  of  Israel  came  up  to  her  for  judg- 
ment. And  she  sent  and  called  Barak  the 
son  of  Abinoam  out  of  Kedesh-naphtali,  and 
said  unto  him,  Hath  not  the  Lord  God  of  Is- 
rael commanded,  saying,  Go  and  draw  to- 
ward mount  Tabor,  and  take  with  thee  ten 
thousand  men  of  the  children  of  Naphtali 
and  of  the  children  of  Zebulun  ?  And  I  will 
draw  unto  thee,  to  the  river  Kishon,  Sisera 
the  captain  of  Jabin's  army,  with  his  char- 


156  BIBLE  GEMS. 

iots  and  his  multitude  ;  and  I  will  deliver 
bim  into  thine  hand.  And  Barak  said  unto 
her,  If  thou  wilt  go  with  me,  then  I  will  go  : 
but  if  thou  wilt  not  go  with  me,  then  I  will 
not  go.  And  she  said,  I  will  surely  go  with 
thee  :  notwithstanding  the  journey  that  thou 
takest  shall  not  be  for  thine  honour  ;  for  the 
Lord  shall  sell  Sisera  into  the  hand  of  a 
woman.  And  Deborah  arose,  and  went  with 
Barak  to  Kedesh.  And  Barak  called  Zebu- 
lun  and  Naphtali  to  Kedesh  ;  and  he  went  up 
with  ten  thousand  men  at  his  feet :  and 
Deborah  went  up  with  him.  Now  Heber  the 
Kenite,  which  was  of  the  children  of  Hobab 
the  father  in  law  of  Moses,  had  severed  him- 
self from  the  Kenites,  and  pitched  his  tent 
unto  the  plain  of  Zaanaim,  which  is  by  Ke- 
desh. And  they  shewed  Sisera  that  Barak 
the  son  of  Abinoam  was  gone  up  to  mount 
Tabor.  And  Sisera  gathered  together  all  his 
chariots,  even  nine  hundred  chariots  of  iron, 
and  all  the  people  that  were  with  him,  from 
Harosheth  of  the  Gentiles  unto  the  river 
of  Kishon.  And  Deborah  said  unto  Barak, 
Up  ;  for  this  is  the  day  in  which  the  Lord 
hath  delivered  Sisera  into  thine  hand  :  is  not 
the  Lord  gone  out  before  thee  ?  So  Barak 
went  down  from  mount  Tabor,  and  ten  thou- 
sand men  after  him.  And  the  Lord  discom- 
fited Sisera,  and  all  his  chariots,  and  all  his 
host,  with  the  edge  of  the  sword  before 
Barak  ;  so  that  Sisera  lighted  down  off  his 
chariot,    and   fled    away   on  his   feet.      But 


BIBLE  GEMS.  157 

Barak  pursued  after  the  chariots,  and  after 
the  host,  unto  Harosheth  of  the  Gentiles  : 
and  all  the  host  of  Sisera  fell  upon  the  edge 
of  the  sword  ;  and  there  was  not  a  man  left. 
Howbeit  Sisera  fled  away  on  his  feet  to  the 
tent  of  Jael  the  wife  of  Heber  the  Kenite ; 
for  there  was  peace  between  Jabin  the  king 
of  Hazor  and  the  house  of  Heber  the  Kenite. 
And  Jael  went  out  to  meet  Sisera,  and  said 
unto  him,  Turn  in,  my  lord,  turn  in  to  me  ; 
fear  not.  And  when  he  had  turned  in  unto 
her  into  the  tent,  she  covered  him  with  a 
mantle.  And  he  said  unto  her,  Give  me,  I 
pray  thee,  a  little  water  to  drink  ;  for  I  am 
thirsty.  And  she  opened  a  bottle  of  milk, 
and  gave  him  drink,  and  covered  him.  Again 
he  said  unto  her,  Stand  in  the  door  of  the  tent, 
and  it  shall  be,  when  any  man  doth  come  and 
inquire  of  thee,  and  say,  Is  there  any  man 
here?  that  thou  shalt  say,  No.  Then  Jael 
Heber's  wife  took  a  nail  of  the  tent,  and  took 
a  hammer  in  her  hand,  and  went  softly  unto 
him,  and  smote  the  nail  into  his  temples, 
and  fastened  it  into  the  ground  :  for  he  was 
fast  asleep  and  weary.  So  he  died.  And, 
behold,  as  Barak  pursued  Sisera,  Jael  came 
out  to  meet  him,  and  said  unto  him,  Come, 
and  I  will  shew  thee  the  man  whom  thou 
seekest.  And  when  he  came  unto  her  tent, 
behold,  Sisera  lay  dead,  and  the  nail  was  in 
his  temples.  So  God  subdued  on  that  day 
Jabin  the  king  of  Canaan  before  the  children 
of  Israel.     And  the  hand  of  the  children  of 


158  BIBLE  GEMS. 

Israel  prospered,  and  prevailed  against  Jabin 
the  king  of  Canaan,  until  they  had  destroyed 
Jabin  king  of  Canaan. — JUDGES  iv.  4-24. 

Jephthah's  Daughter.  Then  the  Spirit  of 
the  Lord  came  upon  Jephthah,  and  he  passed 
over  Gilead,  and  Manasseh,  and  passed  over 
Mizpeh  of  Gilead,  and  from  Mizpeh  of  Gilead 
he  passed  over  unto  the  children  of  Amnion. 
And  Jephthah  vowed  a  vow  unto  the  Lord, 
and  said,  If  thou  shalt  without  fail  deliver 
the  children  of  Ammon  into  mine  hands, 
then  it  shall  be,  that  whatsoever  cometh 
forth  of  the  doors  of  my  house  to  meet  me, 
when  I  return  in  peace  from  the  children  of 
Ammon,  shall  surely  be  the  Lord's,  and  I  will 
offer  it  up  for  a  burnt  offering.  So  Jephthah 
passed  over  unto  the  children  of  Ammon  to 
fight  against  them  ;  and  the  Lord  delivered 
them  into  his  hands.  And  he  smote  them 
from  Aroer,  even  till  thou  come  to  Minnith, 
even  twenty  cities,  and  unto  the  plain  of  the 
vineyards,  with  a  very  great  slaughter.  Thus 
the  children  of  Ammon  were  subdued  before 
the  children  of  Israel.  And  Jephthah  came 
to  Mizpeh  unto  his  house,  and,  behold,  his 
daughter  came  out  to  meet  him  with  timbrels 
and  with  dances:  and  she  was  his  only 
child  ;  beside  her  he  had  neither  son  nor 
daughter.  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  he  saw 
her,  that  he  rent  his  clothes,  and  said,  Alas, 
my  daughter!  thou  hast  brought  me  very 
low,  and  thou   art  one  of  them  that  trouble 


BIBLE  GEMS.  159 

me :  for  I  have  opened  my  mouth  unto  the 
Lord,  and  I  cannot  go  back.  And  she  said 
unto  him,  My  father,  if  thou  hast  opened 
thy  mouth  unto  the  Lord,  do  to  me  accord- 
ing to  that  which  hath  proceeded  out  of  thy 
mouth  ;  forasmuch  as  the  Lord  hath  taken 
vengeance  for  thee  of  thine  enemies,  even  of 
the  children  of  Ammon.  And  she  said  unto 
her  father,  Let  this  thing  be  done  for  me  : 
let  me  alone  two  months,  that  I  may  go  up 
and  down  upon  the  mountains,  and  bewail 
my  virginity,  I  and  my  fellows.  And  he 
said,  Go.  And  he  sent  her  away  for  two 
months  :  and  she  went  with  her  companions, 
and  bewailed  her  virginity  upon  the  mount- 
ains. And  it  came  to  pass  at  the  end  of  two 
months,  that  she  returned  unto  her  father, 
who  did  with  her  according  to  his  vow  which 
he  had  vowed  :  and  she  knew  no  man.  And 
it  was  a  custom  in  Israel,  that  the  daughters 
of  Israel  went  yearly  to  lament  the  daugh- 
ter of  Jephthah  the  Gileadite  four  days  in  a 
year. — Judges  xi.  29-40. 

Manoah's  Wife.  But  the  angel  of  the 
Lord  did  no  more  appear  to  Manoah  and  to 
his  wife.  Then  Manoah  knew  that  he  was 
an  angel  of  the  Lord.  And  Manoah  said 
unto  his  wife,  We  shall  surely  die,  because 
we  have  seen  God.  But  his  wife  said  unto 
him,  If  the  Lord  were  pleased  to  kill  us,  he 
would  not  have  received  a  burnt  offering  and 
a  meat  offering  at  our  hands,  neither  would 


160  BIBLE  GEMS. 

he  have  shewed  us  all  these  things,  nor 
would  as  at  this  time  have  told  us  such 
things  as  these.  And  the  woman  bare  a  son, 
and  called  his  name  Samson  :  and  the  child 
grew,  and  the  Lord  blessed  him. — Judges 
xiii.  21-24.     (Read  entire  chapter.) 

Delilah,  the  Enticer.    (Read  Judges  xvi.) 

Naomi,  Ruth,  and  Orpah.  (Read  Book  of 
Ruth.  ) 

Hannah,  Mother  of  Samuel.  (Read  1 
Sam.  i.,  ii.) 

Abigail,  Wife  of  Nobal.  (Read  1  Sam. 
xxv.  14-19;  23-33-) 

Bathsheba.     (Read  1  Kings  i.  15-21.) 

The  Queen  of  Sheba.  (Read  1  Kings  x. 
1-9;  2  Chron.  ix.  1-12.) 

The  Shunammite  Woman.  And  it  fell  on 
a  day,  that  Elisha  passed  to  Shunem,  where 
was  a  great  woman  ;  and  she  constrained 
him  to  eat  bread.  And  so  it  was,  that  as 
oft  as  he  passed  by,  he  turned  in  thither 
to  eat  bread.  And  she  said  unto  her  husband, 
Behold  now,  I  perceive  that  this  is  a  holy 
man  of  God,  which  passeth  by  us  continu- 
ally. Let  us  make  a  little  chamber,  I  pray 
thee,  on  the  wall  :  and  let  us  set  for  him 


BIBLE  GEMS.  161 

there  a  bed,  and  a  table,  and  a  stool,  and  a 
candlestick  :  and  it  shall  be,  when  he  Com- 
eth to  us,  that  he  shall  turn  in  thither.  And 
it  fell  on  a  day,  that  he  came  thither,  and 
he  turned  into  the  chamber,  and  lay  there. — 
2  Kings  iv.  8-n. 

Huldah,  the  Prophetess.  And  Hilkiah, 
and  they  that  the  king  had  appointed,  went 
to  Huldah  the  prophetess,  the  wife  of  Shal- 
lum  the  son  of  Tikvath,  the  son  of  Hasrah, 
keeper  of  the  wardrobe  ;  (now  she  dwelt 
in  Jerusalem  in  the  college ;)  and  they 
spake  to  her  to  that  effect.  And  she  an- 
swered them,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  of 
Israel,  Tell  ye  the  man  that  sent  you  to 
me,  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Behold,  I  will 
bring  evil  upon  this  place,  and  upon  the 
inhabitants  thereof,  even  all  the  curses  that 
are  written  in  the  book  which  they  have 
read  before  the  king  of  Judah :  because 
they  have  forsaken  me,  and  have  burned 
incense  unto  other  gods,  that  they  might 
provoke  me  to  anger  with  all  the  works 
of  their  hands ;  therefore  my  wrath  shall 
be  poured  out  upon  this  place,  and  shall 
not  be  quenched.  And  as  for  the  king  of 
Judah,  who  sent  you  to  inquire  of  the 
Lord,  so  shall  ye  say  unto  him,  Thus  saith 
the  Lord  God  of  Israel  concerning  the  words 
which  thou  hast  heard  ;  because  thine  heart 
was  tender,  and  thou  didst  humble  thyself 
before  God,  when  thou  heardest  his  words 


162  BIBLE  GEMS. 

against  this  place,  and  against  the  inhabit- 
ants thereof,  and  humbledst  thyself  before 
me,  and  didst  rend  thy  clothes,  and  weep  be- 
fore me  ;  I  have  even  heard  thee  also,  saith 
the  Lord.  Behold,  I  will  gather  thee  to  thy 
fathers,  and  thou  shalt  be  gathered  to  thy 
grave  in  peace,  neither  shall  thine  eyes  see 
all  the  evil  that  I  will  bring  upon  this  place, 
and  upon  the  inhabitants  of  the  same.  So 
they  brought  the  king  word  again. — 2 
Chron.  xxxiv.  22-28. 

Esther,  the  Queen.  Then  Esther  bade 
them  return  Mordecai  this  answer,  Go,  gather 
together  all  the  Jews  that  are  present  in 
Shushan,  and  fast  ye  for  me,  and  neither  eat 
nor  drink  three  days,  night  or  day  :  I  also 
and  my  maidens  will  fast  likewise  ;  and  so 
will  I  go  in  unto  the  king,  which  is  not  ac- 
cording to  the  law  :  and  if  I  perish,  I  per- 
ish.— ESTHER  iv.  15,  16.  (Read  Book  of 
Esther.  ) 

Job's  Daughters.  So  the  Lord  blessed  the 
latter  end  of  Job  more  than  his  beginning  : 
for  he  had  fourteen  thousand  sheep,  and  six 
thousand  camels,  and  a  thousand  yoke  of 
oxen,  and  a  thousand  she  asses.  He  had 
also  seven  sons  and  three  daughters.  And 
he  called  the  name  of  the  first,  Jemima  ;  and 
the  name  of  the  second,  Kezia  ;  and  the 
name  of  the  third,  Keren-happuch.  And  in 
all  the  land  were  no  women  found  so  fair  as 


BIBLE  GEMS.  163 

the  daughters  of  Job  :  and  their  father  gave 
them  inheritance  among  their  brethren. — 
Job  xlii.  12-15. 

The  Model  Woman.  Who  can  find  a  vir- 
tuous woman  ?  for  her  price  is  far  above 
rubies.  The  heart  of  her  husband  doth  safely- 
trust  in  her,  so  that  he  shall  have  no  need  of 
spoil.  She  will  do  him  good  and  not  evil  all 
the  days  of  her  life.  She  seeketh  wool,  and 
flax,  and  worketh  willingly  with  her  hands. 
She  is  like  the  merchants'  ships  ;  she  bring- 
eth  her  food  from  afar.  She  riseth  also 
while  it  is  yet  night,  and  giveth  meat  to  her 
household,  and  a  portion  to  her  maidens. 
She  considereth  a  field,  and  buyeth  it :  with 
the  fruit  of  her  hands  she  planteth  a  vine- 
yard. She  girdeth  her  loins  with  strength, 
and  strengtheneth  her  arms.  She  perceiv- 
eth  that  her  merchandise  is  good  :  her  can- 
dle goeth  not  out  by  night.  She  layeth  her 
hands  to  the  spindle,  and  her  hands  hold  the 
distaff.  She  stretcheth  out  her  hand  to  the 
poor  ;  yea,  she  reacheth  forth  her  hands  to 
the  needy.  She  is  not  afraid  of  the  snow 
for  her  household  :  for  all  her  household  are 
clothed  with  scarlet.  She  maketh  herself 
coverings  of  tapestry  ;  her  clothing  is  silk 
and  purple.  Her  husband  is  known  in  the 
gates,  when  he  sitteth  among  the  elders  of 
the  land.  She  maketh  fine  linen,  and  sell- 
eth  it  ;  and  delivereth  girdles  unto  the  mer- 
chant.    Strength  and  honour  are  her  cloth- 


164  BIBLE  GEMS. 

iug  ;  and  she  shall  rejoice  in  time  to  come. 
She  openeth  her  mouth  with  wisdom  ;  and 
in  her  tongue  is  the  law  of  kindness.  She 
looketh  well  to  the  ways  of  her  household, 
and  eateth  not  the  bread  of  idleness.  Her 
children  arise  up,  and  call  her  blessed  ;  her 
husband  also,  and  he  praiseth  her.  Many 
daughters  have  done  virtuously,  but  thou  ex- 
cellest  them  all.  Favour  is  deceitful,  and 
beauty  is  vain  :  but  a  woman  that  feareth  the 
Lord,  she  shall  be  praised.  Give  her  of  the 
fruit  of  her  hands  ;  and  let  her  own  works 
praise  her  in  the  gates. — Prov.  xxxi.  10-31. 

Elizabeth  and  Mary.     (Read  Luke  i.) 

Mary  and  Martha,  Lydia,  all  New  Testa- 
ment Women.     (Read  New  Testament. ) 


CHAPTER  XI. 

CHARMING  SHORT  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES. 

In  order  to  keep  this  booklet  in  proper 
bounds  we  shall,  under  this  head,  simply  in- 
dicate the  location  of  the  brief  histories,  or 
parables,  or  life  sketches,  which  so  charm- 
ingly set  forth  the  abundance  of  this  delight- 
ful form  of  literature  with  which  the  Holy 
Scriptures  abound.  The  reader  should  care- 
fully look  up  the  references  and  peruse  the 
extracts,  endeavoring  to  commit  to  memory 
some  of  the  shortest  of  them.  Under  this 
head  come  all  the  parables  of  Christ,  though 
we  have  selected  but  two. 

The  Story  of  Joseph.  (Read  Gen. 
xxxvii.-xlvi.) 

The  Story  of  Moses,    (Read  Exod.  ii.-iv.) 

The  Story  of  Ruth.  (Read  Book  of 
Ruth.  ) 

The  Story  of  Samson.  (Read  Judges 
xiii.-xvi.) 

The   Story  of   Samuel.      (Read  i  Sam., 
especially  chaps,  i.-iii.) 
(165) 


166  BIBLE  GEMS. 

The  Story  of  David's  Early  Life  and  Bat- 
tle with  Goliath.     (Read  i  Sam.  xvi.-xxii.) 

The  Story  of  Daniel  and  His  Three  Com- 
panions.    (Read  Book  of  Daniki,.) 

The  Story  of  Esther.  (Read  Book  of 
Esther.) 

The  Drama  of  Job.      (Read  Book  of  Job.) 

The  Epic  of  Ecclesiates.  (Read  Book 
of  ECCI^ESIASTES. ) 

The  Parables  of  Christ,  e.  g.,  The  Good 
Samaritan  and  The  Prodigal  Son.  (Read 
Luke  x.  25-37  ;  xv.  n-32.) 


CHAPTER  XII. 

PATHOS  AND  SENTIMENT. 

Hagar's  Bitter  Cup  Sweetened.  And 
Sarah  saw  the  son  of  Hagar  the  Egyptian, 
which  she  had  borne  unto  Abraham,  mock- 
ing. Wherefore  she  said  unto  Abraham, 
Cast  out  this  bondwoman  and  her  son  :  for 
the  son  of  this  bondwoman  shall  not  be  heir 
with  my  son,  even  with  Isaac.  And  the 
thing  was  very  grievous  in  Abraham's  sight 
because  of  his  son.  And  God  said  unto 
Abraham,  L,et  it  not  be  grievous  in  thy  sight 
because  of  the  lad,  and  because  of  thy  bond- 
woman ;  in  all  that  Sarah  hath  said  unto 
thee,  hearken  unto  her  voice  ;  for  in  Isaac 
shall  thy  seed  be  called.  And  also  of  the 
son  of  the  bondwoman  will  I  make  a  nation, 
because  he  is  thy  seed.  And  Abraham  rose 
up  early  in  the  morning,  and  took  bread, 
and  a  bottle  of  water,  and  gave  it  unto  Hagar, 
putting  it  on  her  shoulder,  and  the  child, 
and  sent  her  away  :  and  she  departed, 
and  wandered  in  the  wilderness  of  Beer- 
sheba.  And  the  water  was  spent  in  the  bot- 
tle, and  she  cast  the  child  under  one  of  the 
shrubs.  And  she  went,  and  sat  her  down 
over  against  him  a  good  way  off,  as  it  were  a 
bowshot :  for  she  said,  Let  me  not  see  the 
death  of  the  child.  And  she  sat  over  against 
(167) 


1GS  BIBLE  GEMS. 

hiin,  and  lifted  up  her  voice,  and  wept. 
And  God  heard  the  voice  of  the  lad  ;  and 
the  angel  of  God  called  to  Hagar  out  of 
heaven,  and  said  unto  her,  What  aileth  thee, 
Hagar  ?  fear  not ;  for  God  hath  heard  the 
voice  of  the  lad  where  he  is.  Arise,  lift  up 
the  lad,  and  hold  him  in  thine  hand  ;  for  I 
will  make  him  a  great  nation.  And  God 
opened  her  eyes,  and  she  saw  a  well  of 
water ;  and  she  went,  and  filled  the  bottle 
with  water,  and  gave  the  lad  drink.  And 
God  was  with  the  lad  ;  and  he  grew,  and 
dwelt  in  the  wilderness,  and  became  an 
archer.  And  he  dwelt  in  the  wilderness  of 
Paran  :  and  his  mother  took  him  a  wife  out 
of  the  land  of  Egypt.  And  it  came  to  pass 
at  that  time,  that  Abimelech  and  Phichol  the 
chief  captain  of  his  host  spake  unto  Abra- 
ham, saying,  God  is  with  thee  in  all  that 
thou  doest. — Gen.  xxi.  9-22. 

Abraham's  Offering  of  Isaac.  And  it  came 
to  pass  after  these  things,  that  God  did  tempt 
Abraham,  and  said  unto  him,  Abraham  : 
and  he  said,  Behold,  here  I  am.  And  he 
said,  Take  now  thy  son,  thine  only  son 
Isaac,  whom  thou  lovest,  and  get  thee  into 
the  land  of  Moriah  ;  and  offer  him  there  for 
a  burnt  offering  upon  one  of  the  mountains 
which  I  will  tell  thee  of.  And  Abraham 
rose  up  early  in  the  morning,  and  saddled 
his  ass,  and  took  two  of  his  young  men  with 
him,  and  Isaac  his  son,  and  clave  the  wood 


BIBLE  GEMS.  169 

for  the  burnt  offering,  and  rose  up,  and  went 
unto  the  place  of  which  God  had  told  him. 
Then  on  the  third  day  Abraham  lifted  up  his 
eyes,  and  saw  the  place  afar  off.  And  Abra- 
ham said  unto  his  young  men,  Abide  ye  here 
with  the  ass  ;  and  I  and  the  lad  will  go  yon- 
der and  worship,  and  come  again  to  you. 
And  Abraham  took  the  wood  of  the  burnt 
offering,  and  laid  it  upon  Isaac  his  son  ;  and 
he  took  the  fire  in  his  hand,  and  a  knife  ; 
and  they  went  both  of  them  together.  And 
Isaac  spake  unto  Abraham  his  father,  and 
said,  My  father :  and  he  said,  Here  am  I, 
my  son.  And  he  said,  Behold  the  fire  and 
the  wood  :  but  where  is  the  lamb  for  the 
burnt  offering?  And  Abraham  said,  My 
son,  God  will  provide  himself  a  lamb  for 
a  burnt  offering :  so  they  went  both  of 
them  together.  And  they  came  to  the  place 
which  God  had  told  him  of ;  and  Abraham 
built  an  altar  there,  and  laid  the  wood  in 
order,  and  bound  Isaac  his  son,  and  laid  him 
on  the  altar  upon  the  wood.  And  Abraham 
stretched  forth  his  hand,  and  took  the  knife 
to  slay  his  son.  And  the  angel  of  the  Lord 
called  unto  him  out  of  heaven,  and  said, 
Abraham,  Abraham  :  and  he  said,  Here  am 
I.  And  he  said,  Lay  not  thine  hand  upon 
the  lad,  neither  do  thou  any  thing  unto 
him  :  for  now  I  know  that  thou  fearest  God, 
seeing  thou  hast  not  withheld  thy  son,  thine 
only  son,  from  me.  And  Abraham  lifted  up 
his  eyes,    and    looked,    and   behold   behind 


170  BIBLE  GEMS. 

him  a  ram  caught  in  a  thicket  by  his  horns  : 
and  Abraham  went  and  took  the  ram,  and 
offered  him  up  for  a  burnt  offering  in  the 
stead  of  his  son.  And  Abraham  called  the 
name  of  that  place  Jehovah-jireh  :  as  it  is 
said  to  this  day,  In  the  mount  of  the  Lord  it 
shall  be  seen. — Gen.  xxii.  1-14. 

Eliezer's  Commission  to  Find  a  Wife  for 
Isaac.     (Read  GEN.  xxiv.  1-67.) 

A  Family  Picture.  And  the  boys  grew  : 
and  Ksau  was  a  cunning  hunter,  a  man  of 
the  field  ;  and  Jacob  was  a  plain  man,  dwell- 
ing in  tents.  And  Isaac  loved  Esau,  be- 
cause he  did  eat  of  his  venison  :  but  Rebekah 
loved  Jacob.  And  Jacob  sod  pottage  :  and 
Esau  came  from  the  field,  and  he  was  faint : 
and  Esau  said  to  Jacob,  Feed  me,  I  pray 
thee,  with  that  same  red  pottage  ;  for  I  am 
faint :  therefore  was  his  name  called  Edom. 
And  Jacob  said,  Sell  me  this  day  thy  birth- 
right. And  Esau  said,  Behold,  I  am  at  the 
point  to  die  :  and  what  profit  shall  this  birth- 
right do  to  me  ?  And  Jacob  said,  Swear  to 
me  this  day  ;  and  he  sware  unto  him  :  and 
he  sold  his  birthright  unto  Jacob.  Then 
Jacob  gave  Esau  bread  and  pottage  of  len- 
tiles ;  and  he  did  eat  and  drink,  and  rose 
up,  and  went  his  way.  Thus  Esau  despised 
his  birthright. — Gen.  xxv.  27-34. 

The  Evils  of  Deception  and  Partiality. 
(Read  Gen.  xxvii.  1-46.) 


BIBLE  GEMS.  171 

Deceived  and  Defrauded.  And  it  came  to 
pass,  as  soon  as  Isaac  had  made  an  end  of 
blessing  Jacob,  and  Jacob  was  yet  scarce 
gone  out  from  the  presence  of  Isaac  his 
father,  that  Esau  his  brother  came  in  from 
his  hunting.  And  he  also  had  made  savoury 
meat,  and  brought  it  unto  his  father,  and 
said  unto  his  father,  Let  my  father  arise,  and 
eat  of  his  son's  venison,  that  thy  soul  may 
bless  me.  And  Isaac  his  father  said  unto 
him,  Who  art  thou  ?  and  he  said,  I  am  thy 
son,  thy  firstborn,  Esau.  And  Isaac  trem- 
bled very  exceedingly,  and  said,  Who? 
where  is  he  that  hath  taken  venison,  and 
brought  it  me,  and  I  have  eaten  of  all  before 
thou  earnest,  and  have  blessed  him  ?  yea, 
and  he  shall  be  blessed.  And  when  Esau 
heard  the  words  of  his  father,  he  cried  with 
a  great  and  exceeding  bitter  cry,  and  said 
unto  his  father,  Bless  me,  even  me  also,  O 
my  father.  .  .  .  And  Esau  said  unto  his 
father,  Hast  thou  but  one  blessing,  my  father  ? 
bless  me,  even  me  also,  O  my  father.  And 
Esau  lifted  up  his  voice,  and  wept. — Gen. 
xxvii.  30-34,  38. 

Love  at  First  Sight.  And  while  he  yet 
spake  with  them,  Rachel  came  with  her 
father's  sheep  :  for  she  kept  them.  And  it 
came  to  pass,  when  Jacob  saw  Rachel  the 
daughter  of  Laban  his  mother's  brother,  and 
the  sheep  of  Laban  his  mother's  brother,  that 
Jacob  went  near,  and  rolled  the  stone  from 


172  BIBLE  GEMS. 

the  well's  mouth,  and  watered  the  flock  of 
Laban  his  mother's  brother.  And  Jacob 
kissed  Rachel,  and  lifted  up  his  voice,  and 
wept.  And  Jacob  told  Rachel  that  he  was 
her  father's  brother,  and  that  he  was  Re- 
bekah's  son :  and  she  ran  and  told  her 
father.  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Laban 
heard  the  tidings  of  Jacob  his  sister's  son, 
that  he  ran  to  meet  him,  and  embraced  him, 
and  kissed  him,  and  brought  him  to  his 
house.  And  he  told  Laban  all  these  things. 
And  Laban  said  to  him,  Surely  thou  art 
my  bone  and  my  flesh.  And  he  abode  with 
him  the  space  of  a  month. — Gen.  xxix. 
9-14. 

The  Pangs  of  Bereavement.  And  they 
journeyed  from  Beth-el  ;  and  there  was  but 
a  little  way  to  come  to  Ephrath  :  and  Rachel 
travailed,  and  she  had  hard  labour.  And  it 
came  to  pass,  when  she  was  in  hard  labour, 
that  the  midwife  said  unto  her,  Fear  not ; 
thou  shalt  have  this  son  also.  And  it  came 
to  pass,  as  her  soul  was  in  departing,  (for 
she  died, )  that  she  called  his  name  Ben-oni : 
but  his  father  called  him  Benjamin.  And 
Rachel  died,  and  was  buried  in  the  way  to 
Kphrath,  which  is  Beth-lehem.  And  Jacob 
set  a  pillar  upon  her  grave  :  that  is  the  pillar 
of  Rachel's  grave  unto  this  day.  .  .  .  And 
as  for  me,  when  I  came  from  Padan,  Rachel 
died  by  me  in  the  land  of  Canaan  in  the  way, 
when  yet  there  was  but  a  little  way  to  come 


BIBLE  GEMS.  173 

unto  Ephrath  :  and  I  buried  her  there  in  the 
way  of  Bphrath  ;  the  same  is  Beth-lehem. — 
Gen.  xxxv.  16-20  ;  xlviii.  7. 

Jacob's  Sore  Grief.  And  they  took  Joseph's 
coat,  and  killed  a  kid  of  the  goats,  and 
dipped  the  coat  in  the  blood  ;  and  they  sent 
the  coat  of  many  colours,  and  they  brought 
it  to  their  father  ;  and  said,  This  have  we 
found  :  know  now  whether  it  be  thy  son's 
coat  or  no.  And  he  knew  it,  and  said,  It  is 
my  son's  coat ;  an  evil  beast  hath  devoured 
him  ;  Joseph  is  without  doubt  rent  in  pieces. 
And  Jacob  rent  his  clothes,  and  put  sack- 
cloth upon  his  loins,  and  mourned  for  his 
son  many  days.  And  all  his  sons  and  all  his 
daughters  rose  up  to  comfort  him  ;  but  he 
refused  to  be  comforted  ;  and  he  said,  For  I 
will  go  down  into  the  grave  unto  my  son 
mourning.  Thus  his  father  wept  for  him. — 
Gen.  xxxvii.  31-35. 

Joseph  Maketh  Himself  Known  to  His 
Brethren.  Then  Joseph  could  not  refrain 
himself  before  all  them  that  stood  by  him  ; 
and  he  cried,  Cause  every  man  to  go  out 
from  me.  And  there  stood  no  man  with 
him,  while  Joseph  made  himself  known  unto 
his  brethren.  And  he  wept  aloud  :  and  the 
Egyptians  and  the  house  of  Pharaoh  heard. 
And  Joseph  said  unto  his  brethren,  I  am  Jo- 
seph ;  doth  my  father  yet  live  ?  And  his 
brethren  could   not  answer  him  ;    for  they 


174  BIBLE  GEMS. 

were  troubled  at  his  presence.  And  Joseph 
said  unto  his  brethren,  Come  near  to  me,  I 
pray  you.  And  they  came  near.  And  he 
said,  I  am  Joseph  your  brother,  whom  ye 
sold  into  Egypt.  Now  therefore  be  not 
grieved,  nor  angry  with  yourselves,  that  ye 
sold  me  hither  :  for  God  did  send  me  before 
you  to  preserve  life.  For  these  two  years 
hath  the  famine  been  in  the  land  :  and  yet 
there  are  five  years,  in  the  which  there  shall 
neither  be  earing  nor  harvest.  And  God 
sent  me  before  you  to  preserve  you  a  poster- 
ity in  the  earth,  and  to  save  your  lives  by  a 
great  deliverance.  So  now  it  was  not  you 
that  sent  me  hither,  but  God  :  and  he  hath 
made  me  a  father  to  Pharaoh,  and  lord  of 
all  his  house,  and  a  ruler  throughout  all  the 
land  of  Egypt.  Haste  ye,  and  go  up  to  my 
father,  and  say  unto  him,  Thus  saith.thy  son 
Joseph,  God  hath  made  me  lord  of  all  Egypt : 
come  down  unto  me,  tarry  not  :  and  thou 
shalt  dwell  in  the  land  of  Goshen,  and  thou 
shalt  be  near  unto  me,  thou,  and  thy  chil- 
dren, and  thy  children's  children,  and  thy 
flocks,  and  thy  herds,  and  all  that  thou 
hast :  and  there  will  I  nourish  thee  ;  for  yet 
there  are  five  years  of  famine  ;  lest  thou, 
and  thy  household,  and  all  that  thou  hast, 
come  to  poverty.  And,  behold,  your  eyes 
see,  and  the  eyes  of  my  brother  Benjamin, 
that  it  is  my  mouth  that  speaketh  unto  you. 
And  ye  shall  tell  my  father  of  all  my  glory 
in  Egypt,  and  of  all  that  ye  have  seen  ;  and 


BIBLE  GEMS.  175 

ye  shall  haste  and  bring  down  my  father 
hither.  And  he  fell  upon  his  brother  Ben- 
jamin's neck,  and  wept;  and  Benjamin  wept 
upon  his  neck.  Moreover  he  kissed  all  his 
brethren,  and  wept  upon  them  :  and  after 
that  his  brethren  talked  with  him. — Gen. 
xlv.  1-15. 

Jacob's  Deathbed  and  Parting  Blessing. 
(Read  Gen.  xlix.  1-33.) 

The  Fear  of  Guilt  and  its  Gracious  For- 
giveness. And  when  Joseph's  brethren  saw 
that  their  father  was  dead,  they  said,  Joseph 
will  peradventure  hate  us,  and  will  certainly 
requite  us  all  the  evil  which  we  did  unto 
him.  And  they  sent  a  messenger  unto  Jo- 
seph, saying,  ThjT  father  did  command  before 
he  died,  saying,  So  shall  ye  say  unto  Joseph, 
Forgive,  I  pray  thee  now,  the  trespass  of 
thy  brethren,  and  their  sin ;  for  they  did 
unto  thee  evil :  and  now,  we  pray  thee,  for- 
give the  trespass  of  the  servants  of  the  God 
of  thy  father.  And  Joseph  wept  when  they 
spake  unto  him.  And  his  brethren  also  went 
and  fell  down  before  his  face  ;  and  they  said, 
Behold,  we  be  thy  servants.  And  Joseph 
said  unto  them,  Fear  not :  for  am  I  in  the 
place  of  God  ?  But  as  for  you,  ye  thought 
evil  against  me  ;  but  God  meant  it  unto 
good,  to  bring  to  pass,  as  it  is  this  day,  to 
save  much  people  alive.  Now  therefore  fear 
ye  not :  I  will  nourish  you,  and  your  little 


176  BIBLE  GEMS. 

ones.     And  he  comforted  them,   and  spake 
kindly  unto  them. — Gen.  1.  15-21. 

The  Longing  Heart.  The  mother  of  Sis- 
era  looked  out  at  a  window,  and  cried 
through  the  lattice,  Why  is  his  chariot  so 
long  in  coming  ?  Why  tarry  the  wheels  of 
his  chariots  ?— Judges  v.  28. 

Sad  Consequences  of  a  Rash  Vow.  And 
Jephthah  vowed  a  vow  unto  the  Lord,  and 
said,  If  thou  shalt  without  fail  deliver  the 
children  of  Ammon  into  mine  hands,  then 
it  shall  be,  that  whatsoever  cometh  forth  of 
the  doors  of  my  house  to  meet  me,  when  I 
return  in  peace  from  the  children  of  Ammon, 
shall  surely  be  the  Lord's,  and  I  will  offer 
it  up  for  a  burnt  offering.  .  .  .  And  Jeph- 
thah came  to  Mizpeh  unto  his  house,  and, 
behold,  his  daughter  came  out  to  meet  him 
with  timbrels  and  with  dances  :  and  she  was 
his  only  child  ;  beside  her  he  had  neither 
son  nor  daughter.  And  it  came  to  pass, 
when  he  saw  her,  that  he  rent  his  clothes, 
and  said,  Alas,  my  daughter !  thou  hast 
brought  me  very  low,  and  thou  art  one  of 
them  that  trouble  me  :  for  I  have  opened 
my  mouth  unto  the  Lord,  and  I  cannot  go 
back.  And  she  said  unto  him,  My  father,  if 
thou  hast  opened  thy  mouth  unto  the  Lord, 
do  to  me  according  to  that  which  hath  pro- 
ceedeth  out  of  thy  mouth  ;  forasmuch  as  the 
Lord  hath  taken  vengeance  for  thee  of  thine 


BIBLE  GEMS.  177 

enemies,  even  of  the  children  of  Ammon. 
And  she  said  unto  her  father,  Let  this  thing 
be  done  for  me :  let  me  alone  two  months, 
that  I  may  go  up  and  down  upon  the  mount- 
ains, and  bewail  my  virginity,  I  and  my  fel- 
lows. And  he  said,  Go.  And  he  sent  her 
away  for  two  months  :  and  she  went  with 
her  companions,  and  bewailed  her  virginity 
upon  the  mountains. — Judges  xi.  30,  31  ; 
34-38. 

David's  Lament  for  Jonathan.  And  David 
lamented  with  this  lamentation  over  Saul 
and  over  Jonathan  his  son  :  (also  he  bade 
them  teach  the  children  of  Judah  the  use  of 
the  bow  :  behold,  it  is  written  in  the  book 
of  Jasher :)  The  beauty  of  Israel  is  slain 
upon  thy  high  places :  how  are  the  mighty 
fallen!  Tell  it  not  in  Gath,  publish  it  not 
in  the  streets  of  Askelon  ;  lest  the  daughters 
of  the  Philistines  rejoice,  lest  the  daughters 
of  the  uncircumcised  triumph.  Ye  mount- 
ains of  Gilboa,  let  there  be  no  dew.  neither 
let  there  be  rain,  upon  you,  nor  fields  of 
offerings  :  for  there  the  shield  of  the  mighty 
is  vilely  cast  away,  the  shield  of  Saul,  as 
though  he  had  not  been  anointed  with  oil. 
From  the  blood  of  the  slain,  from  the  fat  of 
the  mighty,  the  bow  of  Jonathan  turned  not 
back,  and  the  sword  of  Saul  returned  not 
empty.  Saul  and  Jonathan  were  lovely  and 
pleasant  in  their  lives,  and  in  their  death  they 
were  not  divided  :  they  were  swifter  than 


178  BIBLE  GEMS. 

eagles,  they  were  stronger  than  lions.  Ye 
daughters  of  Israel,  weep  over  Saul,  who 
clothed  you  in  scarlet,  with  other  delights ; 
who  put  on  ornaments  of  gold  upon  your 
apparel.  How  are  the  mighty  fallen  in  the 
midst  of  the  battle  !  O  Jonathan,  thou  wast 
slain  in  thine  high  places.  I  am  distressed 
for  thee,  my  brother  Jonathan  :  very  pleasant 
hast  thou  been  unto  me  :  thy  love  to  me  was 
wonderful,  passing  the  love  of  women.  How 
are  the  mighty  fallen,  and  the  weapons  of 
war  perished  ! — 2  Sam.  i.  17-27. 

A  King's  Lament  for  a  Beloved  Son.  And 
David  sat  between  the  two  gates  :  and  the 
watchman  went  up  to  the  roof  over  the  gate 
unto  the  wall,  and  lifted  up  his  eyes,  and 
looked,  and  behold  a  man  running  alone. 
And  the  watchman  cried,  and  told  the  king. 
And  the  king  said,  If  he  be  alone,  there  is 
tidings  in  his  mouth.  And  he  came  apace, 
and  drew  near.  And  the  watchman  saw  an- 
other man  running :  and  the  watchman 
called  unto  the  porter,  and  said,  Behold  an- 
other man  running  alone.  And  the  king 
said,  He  also  bringeth  tidings.  And  the 
watchman  said,  Methinketh  the  running  of 
the  foremost  is  like  the  running  of  Ahimaaz 
the  son  of  Zadok.  And  the  king  said,  He  is 
a  good  man,  and  cometh  with  good  tidings. 
And  Ahimaaz  called,  and  said  unto  the  king, 
All  is  well.  And  he  fell  down  to  the  earth 
upon   his   face   before   the   king,   and  said, 


BIBLE  GEMS.  179 

Blessed  be  the  Lord  thy  God,  which  hath 
delivered  up  the  men  that  lifted  up  their 
hand  against  my  lord  the  king.  And  the 
king  said,  Is  the  young  man  Absalom  safe  ? 
And  Ahimaaz  answered,  When  Joab  sent  the 
king's  servant,  and  me  thy  servant,  I  saw  a 
great  tumult,  but  I  knew  not  what  it  was. 
And  the  king  said  unto  him,  Turn  aside,  and 
stand  here.  And  he  turned  aside,  and 
stood  still.  And,  behold,  Cushi  came  ;  and 
Cushi  said,  Tidings,  my  lord  the  king  :  for 
the  Lord  hath  avenged  thee  this  day  of  all 
them  that  rose  up  against  thee.  And  the 
king  said  unto  Cushi,  Is  the  young  man  Ab- 
salom safe  ?  And  Cushi  answered,  The  ene- 
mies of  my  lord  the  king,  and  all  that  rise 
against  thee  to  do  thee  hurt,  be  as  that  young 
man  is.  And  the  king  was  much  moved, 
and  went  up  to  the  chamber  over  the  gate, 
and  wept:  and  as  he  went,  thus  he  said,  O 
my  son  Absalom  !  my  son,  my  son  Absalom  ! 
would  God  I  had  died  for  thee,  O  Absalom, 
my  son,  my  son  ! — 2  Sam.  xviii.  24-33. 

Tired  of  Life.     (Read  Job  iii.  1-26.) 

Love-sick.     (Read  Song  of  Solomon  ii. 
1-14.) 

A  Prophet's  Bitter  Lamentation.     (Read 
Jeremiah  viii.  18  ;  ix.  2. ) 

The  Tragedy  of  Tragedies.     (Read  Luke 
xxii.,  xxiii.) 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

SARCASM  AND  SHARP  REBUKE. 

God  Rebukes  Cain.  And  the  Lord  said 
unto  Cain,  Why  art  thou  wroth  ?  and  why  is 
thy  countenance  fallen  ?  If  thou  doest  well, 
shalt  thou  not  be  accepted  ?  and  if  thou  do- 
est not  well,  sin  lieth  at  the  door  :  and  unto 
thee  shall  be  his  desire,  and  thou  shalt  rule 
over  him.  And  Cain  talked  with  Abel  his 
brother :  and  it  came  to  pass,  when  they 
were  in  the  field,  that  Cain  rose  up  against 
Abel  his  brother,  and  slew  him.  And  the 
Lord  said  unto  Cain,  Where  is  Abel  thy 
brother  ?  And  he  said,  I  know  not  :  Am  I 
my  brother's  keeper?  And  he  said,  What 
hast  thou  done  ?  the  voice  of  thy  brother's 
blood  crieth  unto  me  from  the  ground.  And 
now  art  thou  cursed  from  the  earth,  which 
hath  opened  her  mouth  to  receive  thy  broth- 
er's blood  from  thy  hand.  When  thou  till- 
est  the  ground,  it  shall  not  henceforth  yield 
unto  thee  her  strength  ;  a  fugitive  and  a 
vagabond  shalt  thou  be  in  the  earth. — Gen. 
iv.  6-12. 

Jotham's  Sarcastic  Parable.     And  all  the 
men  of  Shechem  gathered  together,  and  all 
(180) 


BIBLE  GEMS.  181 

the  house  of  Millo,  and  went  and  made  Abim- 
elech  king,  by  the  plain  of  the  pillar  that 
was  in  Shechem.  And  when  they  told  it  to 
Jotham,  he  went  and  stood  in  the  top  of 
mount  Gerizim,  and  lifted  up  his  voice,  and 
cried,  and  said  unto  them,  Hearken  unto 
me,  ye  men  of  Shechem,  that  God  may 
hearken  unto  you.  The  trees  went  forth  on 
a  time  to  anoint  a  king  over  them  ;  and  they 
said  unto  the  olive  tree,  Reign  thou  over  us. 
But  the  olive  tree  said  unto  them,  Should  I 
leave  my  fatness,  wherewith  by  me  they 
honour  God  and  man,  and  go  to  be  promoted 
over  the  trees  ?  And  the  trees  said  to  the  fig 
tree,  Come  thou,  and  reign  over  us.  But  the 
fig  tree  said  unto  them,  Should  I  forsake 
my  sweetness,  and  my  good  fruit,  and  go  to 
be  promoted  over  the  trees  ?  Then  said  the 
trees  unto  the  vine,  Come  thou,  and  reign 
over  us.  And  the  vine  said  unto  them, 
Should  I  leave  my  wine,  which  cheereth  God 
and  man,  and  go  to  be  promoted  over  the 
trees  ?  Then  said  all  the  trees  unto  the 
bramble,  Come  thou,  and  reign  over  us.  And 
the  bramble  said  unto  the  trees,  If  in  truth 
ye  anoint  me  king  over  you,  then  come 
and  put  your  trust  in  my  shadow ;  and  if 
not,  let  fire  come  out  of  the  bramble,  and 
devour  the  cedars  of  Lebanon.  Now  there- 
fore, if  ye  have  done  truly  and  sincerely,  in 
that  ye  have  made  Abimelech  king,  and  if 
ye  have  dealt  well  with  Jerubbaal  and  his 
house,  and  have  done  unto  him  according  to 


182  BIBLE  GEMS. 

the  deserving  of  his  hands  :  (for  my  father 
fought  for  you,  and  adventured  his  life  far, 
and  delivered  you  out  of  the  hand  of  Midian  : 
and  ye  are  risen  up  against  my  father's 
house  this  day,  and  have  slain  his  sons,  three 
score  and  ten  persons,  upon  one  stone,  and 
have  made  Abimelech,  the  son  of  his  maid- 
servant, king  over  the  men  of  Shechem,  be- 
cause he  is  your  brother:)  if  ye  then  have 
dealt  truly  and  sincerely  with  Jerubbaal  and 
with  his  house  this  day,  then  rejoice  ye  in 
Abimelech,  and  let  him  also  rejoice  in  you  : 
but  if  not,  let  fire  come  out  from  Abimelech, 
and  devour  the  men  of  Shechem,  and  the 
house  of  Millo  ;  and  let  fire  come  out  from 
the  men  of  Shechem,  and  from  the  house  of 
Millo,  and  devour  Abimelech.  And  Jotham 
ran  away,  and  fled,  and  went  to  Beer,  and 
dwelt  there,  for  fear  of  Abimelech  his 
brother. — Judges  ix.  6-21. 

Samuel  Rebukes,  God  Rejects  Saul. 
Then  came  the  word  of  the  Lord  unto  Sam- 
uel, saying,  It  repenteth  me  that  I  have  set 
up  Saul  to  be  king  :  for  he  is  turned  back 
from  following  me,  and  hath  not  performed 
my  commandments.  And  it  grieved  Sam- 
uel ;  and  he  cried  unto  the  Lord  all  night. 
And  when  Samuel  rose  early  to  meet  Saul  in 
the  morning,  it  was  told  Samuel,  saying, 
Saul  came  to  Carmel,  and,  behold,  he  set 
him  up  a  place,  and  is  gone  about,  and  passed 
on,  and  gone  down  to  Gilgal.     And  Samuel 


BIBLE  GEMS.  183 

came  to  Saul  :  and  Saul  said  unto  him, 
Blessed  be  thou  of  the  Lord  :  I  have  per- 
formed the  commandment  of  the  Lord.  And 
Samuel  said,  What  meaneth  then  this  bleat- 
ing of  the  sheep  in  mine  ears,  and  the  lowing 
of  the  oxen  which  I  hear  ?  And  Saul  said, 
They  have  brought  them  from  the  Amalek- 
ites  :  for  the  people  spared  the  best  of  the 
sheep  and  of  the  oxen,  to  sacrifice  unto  the 
Lord  thy  God  ;  and  the  rest  we  have  utterly 
destroyed.  Then  Samuel  said  unto  Saul, 
Stay,  and  I  will  tell  thee  what  the  Lord  hath 
said  to  me  this  night.  And  he  said  unto 
him,  Say  on.  And  Samuel  said,  When  thou 
wast  little  in  thine  own  sight,  wast  thou  not 
made  the  head  of  the  tribes  of  Israel,  and 
the  Lord  anointed  thee  king  over  Israel  ? 
And  the  Lord  sent  thee  on  a  journey,  and 
said,  Go  and  utterly  destroy  the  sinners  the 
Amalekites,  and  fight  against  them  until 
they  be  consumed.  Wherefore  then  didst 
thou  not  obey  the  voice  of  the  Lord,  but 
didst  fly  upon  the  spoil,  and  didst  evil  in  the 
sight  of  the  Lord?  And  Saul  said  unto 
Samuel,  Yea,  I  have  obeyed  the  voice  of 
the  Lord,  and  have  gone  the  way  which 
the  Lord  sent  me,  and  have  brought  Agag 
the  king  of  Amalek,  and  have  utterly  de- 
stroyed the  Amalekites.  But  the  people  took 
of  the  spoil,  sheep  and  oxen,  the  chief  of  the 
things  which  should  have  been  utterly  de- 
stroyed, to  sacrifice  unto  the  Lord  thy  God 
in  Gilgal.     And  Samuel  said,  Hath  the  Lord 


184  BIBLE  GEMS. 

as  great  delight  in  burnt  offerings  and  sacri- 
fices, as  in  obeying  the  voice  of  the  Lord  ? 
Behold,  to  obey  is  better  than  sacrifice,  and 
to  hearken  than  the  fat  of  rams.  For  rebel- 
lion is  as  the  sin  of  witchcraft,  and  stubborn- 
ness is  as  iniquity  and  idolatry.  Because 
thou  hast  rejected  the  word  of  the  Lord,  he 
hath  also  rejected  thee  from  being  king. 
And  Saul  said  unto  Samuel,  I  have  sinned  : 
for  I  have  transgressed  the  commandment  of 
the  Lord,  and  thy  words  :  because  I  feared 
the  people,  and  obeyed  their  voice.  Now 
therefore,  I  pray  thee,  pardon  my  sin,  and 
turn  again  with  me,  that  I  may  worship  the 
Lord.  And  Samuel  said  unto  Saul,  I  will 
not  return  with  thee  :  for  thou  hast  rejected 
the  word  of  the  Lord,  and  the  Lord  hath  re- 
jected thee  from  being  king  over  Israel. — 
i  Sam.  xv.  10-26. 

Nathan,  the  Prophet,  Rebukes  David. 
And  the  Lord  sent  Nathan  unto  David.  And 
he  came  unto  him,  and  said  unto  him,  There 
were  two  men  in  one  city  ;  the  one  rich,  and 
the  other  poor.  The  rich  man  had  exceed- 
ing many  flocks  and  herds  :  but  the  poor 
man  had  nothing,  save  one  little  ewe  lamb, 
which  he  had  bought  and  nourished  up  :  and 
it  grew  up  together  with  him,  and  with  his 
children  ;  it  did  eat  of  his  own  meat,  and 
drank  of  his  own  cup,  and  lay  in  his  bosom, 
and  was  unto  him  as  a  daughter.  And  there 
came  a  traveller  unto  the  rich  man,  and  he 


BIBLE  GEMS.  185 

spared  to  take  of  his  own  flock  and  of  his 
own  herd,  to  dress  for  the  wayfaring  man 
that  was  come  unto  him  ;  but  took  the  poor 
man's  lamb,  and  dressed  it  for  the  man  that 
was  come  to  him.  And  David's  anger  was 
greatly  kindled  against  the  man  ;  and  he 
said  to  Nathan,  As  the  Lord  liveth,  the  man 
that  hath  done  this  thing  shall  surely  die  : 
and  he  shall  restore  the  lamb  fourfold,  be- 
cause he  did  this  thing,  and  because  he  had 
no  pity.  And  Nathan  said  to  David,  Thou  art 
the  man.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  of  Israel, 
I  anointed  thee  king  over  Israel,  and  I  de- 
livered thee  out  of  the  hand  of  Saul ;  and  I 
gave  thee  thy  master's  house,  and  thy  mas- 
ter's wives  into  thy  bosom,  and  gave  thee 
the  house  of  Israel  and  of  Judah  ;  and  if  that 
had  been  too  little,  I  would  moreover  have 
given  unto  thee  such  and  such  things. 
Wherefore  hast  thou  despised  the  command- 
ment of  the  Lord,  to  do  evil  in  his  sight  ? 
thou  hast  killed  Uriah  the  Hittite  with  the 
sword,  and  hast  taken  his  wife  to  be  thy 
wife,  and  hast  slain  him  with  the  sword  of 
the  children  of  Ammon.  Now  therefore  the 
sword  shall  never  depart  from  thine  house  ; 
because  thou  hast  despised  me,  and  hast 
taken  the  wife  of  Uriah  the  Hittite  to  be  thy 
wife.  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Behold,  I  will 
raise  up  evil  against  thee  out  of  thine  own 
house,  and  I  will  take  thy  wives  before  thine 
eyes,  and  give  them  unto  thy  neighbour, 
and  he  shall  lie  with  thy  wives  in  the  sight 


186  BIBLE  GEMS. 

of  this  sun.  For  thou  didst  it  secretly  :  but 
I  will  do  this  thing  before  all  Israel,  and  be- 
fore the  sun.  And  David  said  unto  Nathan, 
I  have  sinned  against  the  Lord.  And  Nathan 
said  unto  David,  The  Lord  also  hath  put 
away  thy  sin  ;  thou  shalt  not  die.  Howbeit, 
because  by  this  deed  thou  hast  given  great 
occasion  to  the  enemies  of  the  Lord  to  blas- 
pheme, the  child  also  that  is  born  unto  thee 
shall  surely  die. — 2  Sam.  xii.  1-14. 

Isaiah's  Complaint  of  Judah.  Hear,  O 
heavens,  and  give  ear,  O  earth  :  for  the  Lord 
hath  spoken  ;  I  have  nourished  and  brought 
up  children,  and  they  have  rebelled  against 
me.  The  ox  knoweth  his  owner,  and  the  ass 
his  master's  crib  :  but  Israel  doth  not  know, 
my  people  doth  not  consider.  Ah  sinful 
nation,  a  people  laden  with  iniquity,  a  seed 
of  evil  doers,  children  that  are  corrupters  : 
they  have  forsaken  the  Lord,  they  have  pro- 
voked the  Holy  One  of  Israel  unto  anger, 
they  are  gone  away  backward.  Why 
should  ye  be  stricken  any  more  ?  ye  will  re- 
volt more  and  more  :  the  whole  head  is  sick, 
and  the  whole  heart  faint.  From  the  sole 
of  the  foot  even  unto  the  head  there  is  no 
soundness  in  it ;  but  wounds,  and  bruises, 
and  putrifying  sores  :  they  have  not  been 
closed,  neither  bound  up,  neither  mollified 
with  ointment.  Your  country  is  desolate, 
your  cities  are  burned  with  fire  :  your  land, 
strangers  devour  it  in  your  presence,  and  it 


BIBLE  GEMS.  187 

is  desolate,  as  overthrown  by  strangers.  And 
the  daughter  of  Zion  is  left  as  a  cottage  in  a 
vineyard,  as  a  lodge  in  a  garden  of  cucum- 
bers, as  a  besieged  city.  Except  the  Lord 
of  hosts  had  left  unto  us  a  very  small  rem- 
nant, we  should  have  been  as  Sodom,  and 
we  should  have  been  like  unto  Gomorrah. 
Hear  the  word  of  the  Lord,  ye  rulers  of  Sod- 
om ;  give  ear  unto  the  law  of  our  God,  ye 
people  of  Gomorrah.  To  what  purpose  is 
the  multitude  of  your  sacrifices  unto  me? 
saith  the  Lord  :  I  am  full  of  the  burnt  offer- 
ings of  rams,  and  the  fat  of  fed  beasts  ;  and 
I  delight  not  in  the  blood  of  bullocks,  or  of 
lambs,  or  of  he  goats.  When  ye  come  to  ap- 
pear before  me,  who  hath  required  this  at 
your  hand,  to  tread  my  courts  ?  Bring  no 
more  vain  oblations  ;  incense  is  an  abomina- 
tion unto  me  ;  the  new  moons  and  sabbaths, 
the  calling  of  assemblies,  I  cannot  away 
with  ;  it  is  iniquity,  even  the  solemn  meet- 
ing. Your  new  moons  and  your  appointed 
feasts  my  soul  hateth  :  they  are  a  trouble 
unto  me  ;  I  am  weary  to  bear  them.  And 
when  ye  spread  forth  your  hands,  I  will  hide 
mine  eyes  from  you  ;  yea,  when  ye  make 
many  prayers,  I  will  not  hear  :  your  hands 
are  full  of  blood.  Wash  ye,  make  you  clean  ; 
put  away  the  evil  of  your  doings  from  before 
mine  eyes ;  cease  to  do  evil ;  learn  to  do 
well  ;  seek  judgment,  relieve  the  oppressed, 
judge  the  fatherless,  plead  for  the  widow. — 
ISA.  i.  2-17. 


188  BIBLE  GEMS. 

God  Interrupts  an  Impious  Feast.  (Read 
Dan.  v.  5-9;  17-30-) 

Malachi  Rebukes  Rebellion  Against  God. 
(Read  Mai,,  iii.  7-15. ) 

Presumption  Rebuked.  And  when  the 
king  came  in  to  see  the  guests,  he  saw  there 
a  man  which  had  not  on  a  wedding  gar- 
ment :  and  he  saith  unto  him,  Friend,  how 
earnest  thou  in  hither  not  having  a  wedding 
garment?  And  he  was  speechless.  Then 
said  the  king  to  the  servants,  Bind  him  hand 
and  foot,  and  take  him  away,  and  cast  him 
into  outer  darkness  ;  there  shall  be  weeping 
and  gnashing  of  teeth.  For  many  are  called, 
but  few  are  chosen.  — Matt.  xxii.  11-14. 

John  the  Baptist's  Sharp  Call  to  Repent- 
ance. And  he  came  into  all  the  country 
about  Jordan,  preaching  the  baptism  of  re- 
pentance for  the  remission  of  sins  ;  as  it  is 
written  in  the  book  of  the  words  of  Esaias 
the  prophet,  saying,  The  voice  of  one  crying 
in  the  wilderness,  Prepare  ye  the  way  of  the 
Lord,  make  his  paths  straight.  Every  val- 
ley shall  be  filled,  and  every  mountain  and 
hill  shall  be  brought  low  ;  and  the  crooked 
shall  be  made  straight,  and  the  rough  ways 
shall  be  made  smooth  ;  and  all  flesh  shall 
see  the  salvation  of  God.  Then  said  he  to 
the  multitude  that  came  forth  to  be  baptized 
of  him,  O  generation  of  vipers,  who  hath 


BIBLE  GEMS.  189 

warned  you  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come  ? 
Bring  forth  therefore  fruits  worthy  of  re- 
pentance, and  begin  not  to  say  within  your- 
selves, We  have  Abraham  to  our  father  :  for 
I  say  unto  you,  That  God  is  able  of  these 
stones  to  raise  up  children  unto  Abraham. 
And  now  also  the  axe  is  laid  unto  the  root  of 
the  trees  :  every  tree  therefore  which  bring- 
eth  not  forth  good  fruit  is  hewn  down,  and 
cast  into  the  fire.  And  the  people  asked 
him,  saying,  What  shall  we  do  then?  He 
answereth  and  saith  unto  them,  He  that 
hath  two  coats,  let  him  impart  to  him  that 
hath  none ;  and  he  that  hath  meat,  let  him 
do  likewise.  Then  came  also  publicans  to 
be  baptized,  and  said  unto  him,  Master,  what 
shall  we  do?  And  he  said  unto  them,  Exact  no 
more  than  that  which  is  appointed  you.  And 
the  soldiers  likewise  demanded  of  him,  say- 
ing, And  what  shall  we  do?  And  he  said 
unto  them,  Do  violence  to  no  man,  neither 
accuse  any  falsely  ;  and  be  content  with  your 
wages.— Luke  iii.  3-14. 

Christ's  Parable  of  the  Unfruitful  Fig  Tree. 
He  spake  also  this  parable  ;  A  certain  man 
had  a  fig  tree  planted  in  his  vineyard  ;  and 
he  came  and  sought  fruit  thereon,  and  found 
none.  Then  said  he  unto  the  dresser  of  his 
vineyard,  Behold,  these  three  years  I  come 
seeking  fruit  on  this  fig  tree,  and  find  none  : 
cut  it  down  ;  why  cumbereth  it  the  ground  ? 
And  he  answering  said  unto  him,  Lord,  let  it 


190  BIBLE  GEMS. 

alone  this  year  also,  till  I  shall  dig  about  it, 
and  dung  it :  and  if  it  bear  fruit,  well :  and 
if  not,  then  after  that  thou  shalt  cut  it  down. 
— Luke  xiii.  6-9. 

Christ  Rebukes  Hypocrisy.  And  he  spake 
this  parable  unto  certain  which  trusted  in 
themselves  that  they  were  righteous,  and  de- 
spised others:  Two  men  went  up  into  the 
temple  to  pray  ;  the  one  a  Pharisee,  and  the 
other  a  publican.  The  Pharisee  stood  and 
prayed  thus  with  himself,  God,  I  thank 
thee,  that  I  am  not  as  other  men  are,  extor- 
tioners, unjust,  adulterers,  or  even  as  this 
publican.  I  fast  twice  in  the  week,  I  give 
tithes  of  all  that  I  possess.  And  the  publi- 
can, standing  afar  off,  would  not  lift  up  so 
much  as  his  eyes  unto  heaven,  but  smote 
upon  his  breast,  saying,  God  be  merciful  to 
me  a  sinner.  I  tell  you,  this  man  went  down 
to  his  house  justified  rather  than  the  other  : 
for  every  one  that  exalteth  himself  shall  be 
abased  ;  and  he  that  humbleth  himself  shall 
be  exalted. — Luke  xviii.  9-14. 

Christ's  Parable  of  the  Vineyard.  Then 
began  he  to  speak  to  the  people  this  parable  ; 
A  certain  man  planted  a  vineyard,  and  let  it 
forth  to  husbandmen,  and  went  into  a  far 
country  for  a  long  time.  And  at  the  season 
he  sent  a  servant  to  the  husbandmen,  that 
they  should  give  him  of  the  fruit  of  the  vine- 
yard :  but  the  husbandmen  beat  him,  and 


BIBLE  GEMS.  191 

sent  him  away  empty.  And  again  he  sent 
another  servant :  and  they  beat  him  also, 
and  entreated  him  shamefully,  and  sent  him 
away  empty.  And  again  he  sent  a  third  : 
and  they  wounded  him  also,  and  cast  him 
out.  Then  said  the  lord  of  the  vineyard, 
What  shall  I  do  ?  I  will  send  my  beloved 
son  :  it  may  be  they  will  reverence  him  when 
they  see  him.  But  when  the  husbandmen 
saw  him,  they  reasoned  among  themselves, 
saying,  This  is  the  heir  :  come,  let  us  kill 
him,  that  the  inheritance  may  be  ours.  So 
they  cast  him  out  of  the  vineyard,  and  killed 
him.  What  therefore  shall  the  lord  of  the 
vineyard  do  unto  them  ?  He  shall  come  and 
destroy  these  husbandmen,  and  shall  give 
the  vineyard  to  others.  And  when  they 
heard  it,  they  said,  God  forbid. — Luke-  xx. 
9-16. 

Christ    Rebukes  Vain  Boasters.      (Read 
John  viii.  31-45- ) 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE   POWER  AND   CHARMS  OF   I.OVE. 

God's  Great  Love.  Verily,  verily,  I  say 
unto  thee,  We  speak  that  we  do  know,  and 
testify  that  we  have  seen  ;  and  ye  receive  not 
our  witness.  If  I  have  told  you  earthly 
things,  and  ye  believe  not,  how  shall  ye  be- 
lieve, if  I  tell  you  of  heavenly  things? 
And  no  man  hath  ascended  up  to  heaven, 
but  he  that  came  down  from  heaven,  even 
the  Son  of  man  which  is  in  heaven.  And  as 
Moses  lifted  up  the  serpent  in  the  wilderness, 
even  so  must  the  Son  of  man  be  lifted  up  : 
that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should  not 
perish,  but  have  eternal  life.  For  God  so 
loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only  begot- 
ten Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him 
should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life. 
For  God  sent  not  his  Son  into  the  world  to 
condemn  the  world ;  but  that  the  world 
through  him  might  be  saved.  He  that  be- 
lieveth on  him  is  not  condemned  :  but  he 
that  believeth  not  is  condemned  already, 
because  he  hath  not  believed  in  the  name  of 
the  only  begotten  Son  of  God.— John  iii. 
11-18. 

God's  Love  Illustrated.     And  the  Phari- 
sees and  scribes  murmured,  saying,  This  man 
(192) 


BIBLE  GEMS.  193 

receiveth  sinners,  and  eateth  with  them. 
And  he  spake  this  parable  unto  them,  saying, 
What  man  of  you,  having  a  hundred  sheep, 
if  he  lose  one  of  them,  doth  not  leave  the 
ninety  and  nine  in  the  wilderness,  and  go 
after  that  which  is  lost,  until  he  find  it  ?  And 
when  he  hath  found  it,  he  layeth  it  on 
his  shoulders,  rejoicing.  And  when  he 
cometh  home,  he  calleth  together  his  friends 
and  neighbours,  saying  unto  them,  Rejoice 
with  me  ;  for  I  have  found  my  sheep  which 
was  lost.  I  say  unto  you,  that  likewise  joy 
shall  be  in  heaven  over  one  sinner  that  repent- 
eth,  more  than  over  ninety  and  nine  just 
persons,  which  need  no  repentance.  Either 
what  woman  having  ten  pieces  of  silver,  if 
she  lose  one  piece,  doth  not  light  a  candle, 
and  sweep  the  house,  and  seek  diligently  till 
she  find  it?  And  when  she  hath  found  it, 
she  calleth  her  friends  and  her  neighbours 
together,  saying,  Rejoice  with  me  ;  for  I 
have  found  the  piece  which  I  had  lost.  Like- 
wise, I  say  unto  you,  there  is  joy  in  the 
presence  of  the  angels  of  God  over  one  sin- 
ner that  repenteth.  And  he  said,  A  certain 
man  had  two  sons  :  and  the  younger  of  them 
said  to  his  father,  Father,  give  me  the  por- 
tion of  goods  that  falleth  to  me.  And  he 
divided  unto  them  his  living.  And  not  many 
days  after  the  younger  son  gathered  all 
together,  and  took  his  journey  into  a  far 
country,  and  there  wasted  his  substance  with 
riotous  living.     And  when  he  had  spent  all, 


194  BIBLE  GEMS. 

there  arose  a  mighty  famine  in  that  land  ; 
and  he  began  to  be  in  want.  And  he  went 
and  joined  himself  to  a  citizen  of  that  coun- 
try ;  and  he  sent  him  into  his  fields  to  feed 
swine.  And  he  would  fain  have  filled  his 
belly  with  the  husks  that  the  swine  did  eat : 
and  no  man  gave  unto  him.  And  when  he 
came  to  himself,  he  said,  How  many  hired 
servants  of  my  father's  have  bread  enough 
and  to  spare,  and  I  perish  with  hunger  !  I 
will  arise  and  go  to  my  father,  and  will  say 
unto  him,  Father,  I  have  sinned  against 
heaven,  and  before  thee,  and  am  no  more 
worthy  to  be  called  thy  son  :  make  me  as 
one  of  thy  hired  servants.  And  he  arose, 
and  came  to  his  father.  But  when  he  was 
yet  a  great  way  off,  his  father  saw  him,  and 
had  compassion,  and  ran,  and  fell  on  his 
neck,  and  kissed  him.  And  the  son  said  unto 
him,  Father,  I  have  sinned  against  heaven, 
and  in  thy  sight,  and  am  no  more  worthy 
to  be  called  thy  son.  But  the  father  said  to 
his  servants,  Bring  forth  the  best  robe,  and 
put  it  on  him  ;  and  put  a  ring  on  his  hand, 
and  shoes  on  his  feet :  and  bring  hither  the 
fatted  calf,  and  kill  it ;  and  let  us  eat,  and 
be  merry  :  for  this  my  son  was  dead,  and  is 
alive  again  ;  he  was  lost,  and  is  found.  And 
they  began  to  be  merry. — Luke  xv.  2-24. 

Rejected  Love.  And  Jesus  answered  and 
spake  unto  them  again  by  parables,  and  said, 
The  kingdom  of   heaven  is  like  unto  a  cer- 


BIBLE  GEMS.  195 

tain  king,  which  made  a  marriage  for  his  son, 
and  sent  forth  his  servants  to  call  them  that 
were  bidden  to  the  wedding  :  and  they  would 
not  come.  Again,  he  sent  forth  other  serv- 
ants, saying,  Tell  them  which  are  bidden, 
Behold,  I  have  prepared  my  dinner:  my  oxen 
and  my  fatlings  are  killed,  and  all  things  are 
ready  :  come  unto  the  marriage.  But  they 
made  light  of  it,  and  went  their  ways,  one  to 
his  farm,  another  to  his  merchandise  :  and 
the  remnant  took  his  servants,  and  entreated 
them  spitefully,  and  slew  them.  But  when 
the  king  heard  thereof,  he  was  wroth  :  and 
he  sent  forth  his  armies,  and  destroyed  those 
murderers,  and  burned  up  their  city.  Then 
saith  he  to  his  servants,  The  wedding  is 
ready,  but  they  which  were  bidden  were  not 
worthy.  Go  ye  therefore  into  the  highways, 
and  as  many  as  ye  shall  find,  bid  to  the  mar- 
riage. So  those  servants  went  out  into  the 
highways,  and  gathered  together  all  as  many 
as  they  found,  both  bad  and  good  :  and  the 
wedding  was  furnished  with  guests.  And 
when  the  king  came  in  to  see  the  guests,  he 
saw  there  a  man  which  had  not  on  a  wedding 
garment :  and  he  saith  unto  him,  Friend,  how 
earnest  thou  in  hither  not  having  a  wedding 
garment?  And  he  was  speechless.  Then 
said  the  king  to  the  servants,  Bind  him  hand 
and  foot,  and  take  him  away,  and  cast  him 
into  outer  darkness  ;  there  shall  be  weeping 
and  gnashing  of  teeth.  For  many  are  called, 
but  few  are  chosen. — MaTT.  xxii.  1-14. 


196  BIBLE  GEMS. 

Love  Manifested.  Behold,  what  manner 
of  love  the  Father  hath  bestowed  upon  us, 
that  we  should  be  called  the  sons  of  God  : 
therefore  the  world  knoweth  us  not,  because 
it  knew  him  not.  Beloved,  now  are  we  the 
sons  of  God,  and  it  doth  not  yet  appear  what 
we  shall  be  :  but  we  know  that,  when  he  shall 
appear,  we  shall  be  like  him  ;  for  we  shall 
see  him  as  he  is.  And  every  man  that  hath 
this  hope  in  him  purifieth  himself,  even  as 
he  is  pure. — i  John  iii.  1-3. 

Love  Commended.  Beloved,  let  us  love 
one  another  :  for  love  is  of  God  ;  and  every 
one  that  loveth  is  born  of  God,  and  knoweth 
God.  He  that  loveth  not,  knoweth  not  God  ; 
for  God  is  love.  In  this  was  manifested  the 
love  of  God  toward  us,  because  that  God  sent 
his  only  begotten  Son  into  the  world,  that 
we  might  live  through  him.  Herein  is  love, 
not  that  we  loved  God,  but  that  he  loved  us, 
and  sent  his  Son  to  be  the  propitiation  for 
our  sins.  Beloved,  if  God  so  loved  us,  we 
ought  also  to  love  one  another.  No  man 
hath  seen  God  at  any  time.  If  we  love  one 
another,  God  dwelleth  in  us,  and  his  love  is 
perfected  in  us.  Hereby  know  we  that  we 
dwell  in  him,  and  he  in  us,  because  he  hath 
given  us  of  his  Spirit.  And  we  have  seen 
and  do  testify  that  the  Father  sent  the  Son 
to  be  the  Saviour  of  the  world.  Whosoever 
shall  confess  that  Jesus  is  the  Son  of  God, 
God  dwelleth  in  him,  and  he  in  God.     And 


BIBLE  GEMS.  197 

we  have  known  and  believed  the  love  that 
God  hath  to  us.  God  is  love  ;  and  he  that 
dwelleth  in  love  dwelleth  in  God,  and  God 
in  him.  Herein  is  our  love  made  perfect, 
that  we  may  have  boldness  in  the  day  of 
judgment :  because  as  he  is,  so  are  we  in  this 
world.  There  is  no  fear  in  love  ;  but  perfect 
love  casteth  out  fear  :  because  fear  hath  tor- 
ment. He  that  feareth  is  not  made  perfect 
in  love.  We  love  him,  because  he  first  loved 
us.  If  a  man  say,  I  love  God,  and  hateth 
his  brother,  he  is  a  liar :  for  he  that  loveth  not 
his  brother  whom  he  hath  seen,  how  can  he 
love  God  whom  he  hath  not  seen  ?  And  this 
commandment  have  we  from  him,  That  he 
who  loveth  God  love  his  brother  also. — 
i  John  iv.  7-21. 

Love's  Constraint.  But  what  things  were 
gain  to  me,  those  I  counted  loss  for  Christ. 
Yea  doubtless,  and  I  count  all  things  but 
loss  for  the  excellency  of  the  knowledge  of 
Christ  Jesus  my  Lord  :  for  whom  I  have  suf- 
fered the  loss  of  all  things,  and  do  count 
them  but  dung,  that  I  may  win  Christ,  and 
be  found  in  him,  not  having  mine  own  right- 
eousness, which  is  of  the  law,  but  that  which 
is  through  the  faith  of  Christ,  the  righteous- 
ness which  is  of  God  by  faith  :  that  I  may 
know  him,  and  the  power  of  his  resurrec- 
tion, and  the  fellowship  of  his  sufferings, 
being  made  conformable  unto  his  death  ;  if 
by  any  means  I  might  attain  unto  the  resur- 


198  BIBLE  GEMS. 

rection  of  the  dead.  Not  as  though  I  had 
already  attained,  either  were  already  per- 
fect :  but  I  follow  after,  if  that  I  may  appre- 
hend that  for  which  also  I  am  apprehended 
of  Christ  Jesus.  Brethren,  I  count  not  my- 
self to  have  apprehended  :  but  this  one  thing 
I  do,  forgetting  those  things  which  are  be- 
hind, and  reaching  forth  unto  those  things 
which  are  before,  I  press  toward  the  mark 
for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God  in 
Christ  Jesus. — Phii,.  iii.  7-14. 

The  Right  Objects  of  Love.  If  ye  then 
be  risen  with  Christ,  seek  those  things  which 
are  above,  where  Christ  sitteth  on  the  right 
hand  of  God.  Set  your  affection  on  things 
above,  not  on  things  on  the  earth.  For  ye 
are  dead,  and  your  life  is  hid  with  Christ  in 
God.  When  Christ,  who  is  our  life,  shall 
appear,  then  shall  ye  also  appear  with  him  in 
glory.  Mortify  therefore  your  members 
which  are  upon  the  earth  ;  fornication,  un- 
cleanness,  inordinate  affection,  evil  concu- 
piscence, and  covetousness,  which  is  idola- 
try :  for  which  things'  sake  the  wrath  of 
God  cometh  on  the  children  of  disobedience  : 
in  the  which  ye  also  walked  sometime,  when 
ye  lived  in  them. — Coi,.  iii.  1-7. 

Love's  Challenge  of  Love.  Jesus  saith 
unto  them,  Come  and  dine.  And  none  of 
the  disciples  durst  ask  him,  Who  art  thou  ? 
knowing  that  it  was  the  Lord.     Jesus  then 


BIBLE  GEMS.  199 

cometh,  and  taketh  bread,  and  giveth  them, 
and  fish  likewise.  This  is  now  the  third 
time  that  Jesus  shewed  himself  to  his  disci- 
ples, after  that  he  was  risen  from  the  dead. 
So  when  they  had  dined,  Jesus  saith  to  Simon 
Peter,  Simon,  son  of  Jonas,  lovest  thou  me 
more  than  these  ?  He  saith  unto  him,  Yea, 
Lord  ;  thou  knowest  that  I  love  thee.  He 
saith  unto  him,  Feed  my  lambs.  He  saith 
to  him  again  the  second  time,  Simon,  son  of 
Jonas,  lovest  thou  me?  He  saith  unto  him, 
Yea,  Lord  ;  thou  knowest  that  I  love  thee. 
He  saith  unto  him,  Feed  my  sheep.  He  saith 
unto  him  the  third  time,  Simon,  son  of  Jonas, 
lovest  thou  me  ?  Peter  was  grieved  because 
he  said  unto  him  the  third  time,  Lovest  thou 
me  ?  And  he  said  unto  him,  Lord,  thou 
knowest  all  things  ;  thou  knowest  that  I  love 
thee.  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  Feed  my  sheep. 
— John  xxi.  12-17. 

The  Believer's  Security  in  Love.  And 
he  that  searcheth  the  hearts  knoweth  what  is 
the  mind  of  the  Spirit,  because  he  maketh 
intercession  for  the  saints  according  to  the 
will  of  God.  And  we  know  that  all  things 
work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love 
God,  to  them  who  are  the  called  according 
to  his  purpose.  For  whom  he  did  foreknow, 
he  also  did  predestinate  to  be  conformed  to 
the  image  of  his  Son,  that  he  might  be  the 
firstborn  among  many  brethren.  Moreover, 
whom   he  did    predestinate,    them  he  also 


200  BIBLE  GEMS. 

called  :  and  whom  he  called,  them  he  also 
justified  :  and  whom  he  justified,  them  he 
also  glorified.  What  shall  we  then  say  to 
these  things  ?  If  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be 
against  us  ?  He  that  spared  not  his  own 
Son,  but  delivered  him  up  for  us  all,  how 
shall  he  not  with  him  also  freely  give  us  all 
things?  Who  shall  lay  any  thing  to  the 
charge  of  God's  elect  ?  It  is  God  that  justi- 
fieth.  Who  is  he  that  condemneth  ?  It  is 
Christ  that  died,  yea  rather,  that  is  risen 
again,  who  is  even  at  the  right  hand  of  God, 
who  also  maketh  intercession  for  us.  Who 
shall  separate  us  from  the  love  of  Christ? 
shall  tribulation,  or  distress,  or  persecution, 
or  famine,  or  nakedness,  or  peril,  or  sword  ? 
As  it  is  written,  For  thy  sake  we  are  killed 
all  the  day  long  ;  we  are  accounted  as  sheep 
for  the  slaughter.  Nay,  in  all  these  things 
we  are  more  than  conquerors  through  him 
that  loved  us.  For  I  am  persuaded,  that 
neither  death,  nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor  prin- 
cipalities, nor  powers,  nor  things  present, 
nor  things  to  come,  nor  height,  nor  depth, 
nor  any  other  creature,  shall  be  able  to  sep- 
arate us  from  the  love  of  God,  which  is  in 
Christ  Jesus  our  Lord. — Rom.  viii.  27-39. 

Love's  Supreme  Excellence.  Though  I 
speak  with  the  tongues  of  men  and  of  angels, 
and  have  not  charity,  I  am  become  as  sound- 
ing brass,  or  a  tinkling  cymbal.  And  though 
I  have  the  gift  of  prophecy,  and  understand 


BIBLE  GEMS.  201 

all  mysteries,  and  all  knowledge  ;  and 
though  I  have  all  faith,  so  that  I  could  remove 
mountains,  and  have  not  charity,  I  am  noth- 
ing. And  though  I  bestow  all  my  goods  to 
feed  the  poor,  and  though  I  give  my  body  to 
be  burned,  and  have  not  charity,  it  profiteth 
me  nothing.  Charity  suffereth  long,  and  is 
kind  ;  charity  envieth  not ;  charity  vaunteth 
not  itself,  is  not  puffed  up,  doth  not  behave 
itself  unseemly,  seeketh  not  her  own,  is  not 
easily  provoked,  thinketh  no  evil ;  rejoiceth 
not  in  iniquity,  but  rejoiceth  in  the  truth  ; 
beareth  all  things,  believeth  all  things, 
hopeth  all  things,  endureth  all  things. 
Charity  never  faileth  :  but  whether  there  be 
prophecies,  they  shall  fail  ;  whether  there  be 
tongues,  they  shall  cease  ;  whether  there  be 
knowledge,  it  shall  vanish  away.  For  we 
know  in  part,  and  we  prophesy  in  part.  But 
when  that  which  is  perfect  is  come,  then  that 
which  is  in  part  shall  be  done  away.  When  I 
was  a  child,  I  spake  as  a  child,  I  understood 
as  a  child,  I  thought  as  a  child  :  but  when  I 
became  a  man,  I  put  away  childish  things. 
For  now  we  see  through  a  glass,  darkly  ;  but 
then  face  to  face  :  now  I  know  in  part ;  but 
then  shall  I  know  even  as  also  I  am  known. 
And  now  abideth  faith,  hope,  charity,  these 
three  ;  but  the  greatest  of  these  is  charity. — 
i  Cor.  xiii.  1-13. 

Warning  Against  Growing  Cold  in  Love. 

Nevertheless  I  have  somewhat  against  thee, 


202  BIBLE  GEMS. 

because  thou  hast  left  thy  first  love.  Re- 
member therefore  from  whence  thou  art 
fallen,  and  repent,  and  do  the  first  works  ; 
or  else  I  will  come  unto  thee  quickly,  and 
will  remove  thy  candlestick  out  of  his  place, 
except  thou  repent. — Rev.  ii.  4,  5. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

FAITH  AND   ITS  ACHIEVEMENTS. 

Abel's  Faith.  And  Abel,  he  also  brought 
of  the  firstlings  of  his  flock  and  of  the  fat 
thereof.  And  the  Lord  had  respect  unto 
Abel  and  to  his  offering.  ...  By  faith  Abel 
offered  unto  God  a  more  excellent  sacrifice 
than  Cain,  by  which  he  obtained  witness 
that  he  was  righteous,  God  testifying  of  his 
gifts  :  and. by  it  he  being  dead  yet  speaketh. 
—Gen.  iv.  4 ;  Heb.  xi.  4. 

Enoch's  Faith.  And  Enoch  lived  sixty 
and  five  years,  and  begat  Methuselah  :  and 
Enoch  walked  with  God  after  he  begat 
Methuselah  three  hundred  years,  and  begat 
sons  and  daughters  :  and  all  the  days  of 
Enoch  were  three  hundred  sixty  and  five 
years  :  and  Enoch  walked  with  God  :  and  he 
was  not ;  for  God  took  him.  ...  By  faith 
Enoch  was  translated  that  he  should  not  see 
death  ;  and  was  not  found,  because  God  had 
translated  him  :  for  before  his  translation  he 
had  this  testimony,  that  he  pleased  God. — 
Gen.  v.  21-24 ;  Heb.  xi.  5. 

Noah's  Faith.     And  God  said  unto  Noah, 
The  end  of  all  flesh  is  come  before  me  ;  for 
(203) 


204  BIBLE  CiJ 

the  earth  is  filled  with  violence  through 
them  ;  and,  behold,  I  will  destroy  them  with 
the  earth.  Make  thee  an  ark  of  gopher 
wood;  rooms  shalt  thou  make  in  the  ark, 
and  shalt  pitch  it  within  and  without  with 
pitch.  And  this  is  the  fashion  which  thou 
shalt  make  it  of  :  The  length  of  the  ark  shall 
be  three  hundred  cubits,  the  breadth  of  it 
fifty  cubits,  and  the  height  of  it  thirty  cub- 
its. .  .  .  Thus  did  Noah  ;  according  to  all 
that  God  commanded  him,  so  did  he.  .  .  . 
By  faith  Noah,  being  warned  of  God  of  things 
not  seen  as  yet,  moved  with  fear,  prepared 
an  ark  to  the  saving  of  his  house  :  by  the 
which  he  condemned  the  world,  and  became 
heir  of  the  righteousness  which  is  by  faith. 
— Gen.  vi.  13-15,  22  ;  and  read  chaps,  viii. 
and  ix. ;  Heb.  xi.  7. 

Abraham's  Faith.  Now  the  Lord  had  said 
unto  Abram,  Get  thee  out  of  thy  country, 
and  from  thy  kindred,  and  from  thy  father's 
house,  unto  a  land  that  I  will  shew  thee  : 
and  I  will  make  of  thee  a  great  nation,  and 
I  will  bless  thee,  and  make  thy  name  great ; 
and  thou  shalt  be  a  blessing  :  and  I  will  bless 
them  that  bless  thee,  and  curse  him  that 
curseth  thee :  and  in  thee  shall  all  families 
of  the  earth  be  blessed.  So  Abram  departed, 
as  the  Lord  had  spoken  unto  him  ;  and  Lot 
went  with  him  :  and  Abram  was  seventy  and 
five  years  old  when  he  departed  out  of 
Haran.     And  Abram  took  Sarai  his  wife,  and 


BIBLE  GEMS.  205 

Lot  his  brother's  son,  and  all  their  substance 
that  they  had  gathered,  and  the  souls  that 
they  had  gotten  in  Haran  ;  and  they  went 
forth  to  go  into  the  land  of  Canaan  ;  and  in- 
to the  land  of  Canaan  they  came.  .  .  .  After 
these  things  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto 
Abram  in  a  vision,  saying,  Fear  not,  Abram  : 
I  am  thy  shield,  and  thy  exceeding  great 
reward.  And  Abram  said,  Lord  God,  what 
wilt  thou  give  me,  seeing  I  go  childless,  and 
the  steward  of  my  house  is  this  Kliezer  of 
Damascus  ?  And  Abram  said,  Behold,  to  me 
thou  hast  given  no  seed  :  and,  lo,  one  born 
in  my  house  is  mine  heir.  And,  behold,  the 
word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  him,  saying, 
This  shall  not  be  thine  heir  ;  but  he  that 
shall  come  forth  out  of  thine  own  bowels 
shall  be  thine  heir.  And  he  brought  him 
forth  abroad,  and  said,  Look  now  toward 
heaven,  and  tell  the  stars,  if  thou  be  able  to 
number  them  :  and  he  said  unto  him,  So 
shall  thy  seed  be.  And  he  believed  in  the 
Lord  ;  and  he  counted  it  to  him  for  right- 
eousness. .  .  .  And  it  came  to  pass  after  these 
things,  that  God  did  tempt  Abraham,  and 
said  unto  him,  Abraham  :  and  he  said,  Be- 
hold, here  I  am.  And  he  said,  Take  now  thy 
son,  thine  only  son  Isaac,  whom  thou  lovest, 
and  get  thee  into  the  land  of  Moriah  ;  and 
offer  him  there  for  a  burnt  offering  upon  one 
of  the  mountains  which  I  will  tell  thee  of. 
And  Abraham  rose  up  early  in  the  morning, 
and   saddled   his   ass,  and   took  two  of   his 


20G  BIBLE  GEMS. 

young  men  with  him,  and  Isaac  his  son,  and 
clave  the  wood  for  the  burnt  offering,  and 
rose  up,  and  went  unto  the  place  of  which 
God  had  told  him.  Then  on  the  third  day 
Abraham  lifted  up  his  eyes,  and  saw  the 
place  afar  off.  And  Abraham  said  unto  his 
young  men,  Abide  ye  here  with  the  ass  ;  and 
I  and.  the  lad  will  go  yonder  and  worship, 
and  come  again  to  you.  And  Abraham  took 
the  wood  of  the  burnt  offering,  and  laid  it 
upon  Isaac  his  son  ;  and  he  took  the  fire  in 
his  hand,  and  a  knife  ;  and  they  went  both  of 
them  together.  And  Isaac  spake  unto  Abra- 
ham his  father,  and  said,  My  father  :  and  he 
said,  Here  am  I,  my  son.  And  he  said,  Be- 
hold the  fire  and  the  wood  :  but  where  is  the 
lamb  for  a  burnt  offering?  And  Abraham 
said,  My  son,  God  will  provide  himself  a 
lamb  for  a  burnt  offering  :  so  they  went  both 
of  them  together.  And  they  came  to  the 
place  which  God  had  told  him  of  ;  and  Abra- 
ham built  an  altar  there,  and  laid  the  wood 
in  order,  and  bound  Isaac  his  son,  and  laid 
him  on  the  altar  upon  the  wood.  And  Abra- 
ham stretched  forth  his  hand,  and  took  the 
knife  to  slay  his  son.  And  the  Angel  of  the 
Lord  called  unto  him  out  of  heaven,  and 
said,  Abraham,  Abraham  :  and  he  said,  Here 
am  I.  And  he  said,  Lay  not  thine  hand 
upon  the  lad,  neither  do  thou  any  thing  unto 
him  :  for  now  I  know  that  thou  fearest  God, 
seeing  thou  hast  not  withheld  thy  son,  thine 
only  son,  from  me.     And  Abraham  lifted  up 


BIBLE  GEMS.  207 

his  eyes,  and  looked,  and  behold  behind  him 
a  ram  caught  in  a  thicket  by  his  horns  :  and 
Abraham  went  and  took  the  ram,  and  offered 
him  up  for  a  burnt  offering  in  the  stead  of 
his  son.  And  Abraham  called  the  name  of 
that  place  Jehovah-jireh  :  as  it  is  said  to  this 
day,  In  the  mount  of  the  Lord  it  shall  be 
seen. — Gen.  xii.  1-5  ;  xv.  1-6  ;  xxii.  1-14. 

Patriarchs'  Faith.  (Read  GENESIS  xxiv. 
to  end,  and  Book  of  Exodus.  ) 

The  Passover  Test.  And  the  Lord  spake 
unto  Moses  and  Aaron  in  the  land  of  Egypt, 
saying,  This  month  shall  be  unto  you  the 
beginning  of  months  :  it  shall  be  the  first 
month  of  the  year  to  you.  Speak  ye  unto 
all  the  congregation  of  Israel,  saying,  In  the 
tenth  day  of  this  month  they  shall  take  to 
them  every  man  a  lamb,  according  to  the 
house  of  their  fathers,  a  lamb  for  a  house  : 
and  if  the  household  be  too  little  for  the  lamb, 
let  him  and  his  neighbour  next  unto  his 
house  take  it  according  to  the  number  of  the 
souls  ;  every  man  according  to  his  eating 
shall  make  your  count  for  the  lamb.  Your 
lamb  shall  be  without  blemish,  a  male  of  the 
first  year :  ye  shall  take  it  out  from  the 
sheep,  or  from  the  goats  :  and  ye  shall  keep 
it  up  until  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  same 
month  :  and  the  whole  assembly  of  the  con- 
gregation of  Israel  shall  kill  it  in  the  even- 
ing.    And  they  shall  take  of  the  blood,  and 


208  BIBLE  GEMS. 

strike  it  on  the  two  side  posts  and  on  the 
upper  door  post  of  the  houses,  wherein  they 
shall  eat  it.  And  they  shall  eat  the  flesh  in 
that  night,  roast  with  fire,  and  unleavened 
bread ;  and  with  bitter  herbs  they  shall  eat 
it.  Eat  not  of  it  raw,  nor  sodden  at  all  with 
water,  but  roast  with  fire  ;  his  head  with  his 
legs,  and  with  the  purtenance  thereof.  And 
ye  shall  let  nothing  of  it  remain  until  the 
morning ;  and  that  which  remaineth  of  it 
until  the  morning  ye  shall  burn  with  fire. 
And  thus  shall  ye  eat  it ;  with  your  loins 
girded,  your  shoes  on  your  feet,  and  your  staff 
in  your  hand  ;  and  ye  shall  eat  it  in  haste  :  it 
is  the  Lord's  passover.  For  I  will  pass 
through  the  land  of  Egypt  this  night,  and 
will  smite  all  the  firstborn  in  the  land  of 
Egypt,  both  man  and  beast ;  and  against  all 
the  gods  of  Egypt  I  will  execute  judgment  : 
I  am  the  Lord.  And  the  blood  shall  be  to 
you  for  a  token  upon  the  houses  where  ye 
are  :  and  when  I  see  the  blood,  I  will  pass 
over  you,  and  the  plague  shall  not  be  upon 
you  to  destroy  you,  when  I  smite  the  land 
of  Egypt.  And  this  day  shall  be  unto  you 
for  a  memorial  ;  and  ye  shall  keep  it  a  feast 
to  the  Lord  throughout  your  generations  :  ye 
shall  keep  it  a  feast  by  an  ordinance  for  ever. 
— Exodus  xii.  1-14. 

Passage  of  the  Red  Sea.  And  Moses  said 
unto  the  people,  Fear  ye  not,  stand  still,  and 
see  the  salvation  of  the  Lord,  which  he  will 


BIBLE  GEMS.  209 

shew  to  you  to  day  :  for  the  Egyptians 
whom  ye  have  seen  to  day,  ye  shall  see  them 
again  no  more  for  ever.  The  Lord  shall 
fight  for  you,  and  ye  shall  hold  your  peace. 
And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Wherefore 
criest  thou  unto  me  ?  speak  unto  the  children 
of  Israel,  that  they  go  forward  :  but  lift  thou 
up  thy  rod,  and  stretch  out  thine  hand  over 
the  sea,  and  divide  it  :  and  the  children  of 
Israel  shall  go  on  dry  ground  through  the 
midst  of  the  sea.  And  I,  behold,  I  will 
harden  the  hearts  of  the  Egyptians,  and 
they  shall  follow  them  :  and  I  will  get  me 
honour  upon  Pharoah,  and  upon  all  his  host, 
upon  his  chariots,  and  upon  his  horsemen. 
And  the  Egyptians  shall  know  that  I  am  the 
Lord,  when  I  have  gotten  me  honour  upon 
Pharaoh,  upon  his  chariots,  and  upon  his 
horsemen.  And  the  Angel  of  God,  which 
went  before  the  camp  of  Israel,  removed  and 
went  behind  them  ;  and  the  pillar  of  the 
cloud  went  from  before  their  face,  and  stood 
behind  them  :  and  it  came  between  the  camp 
of  the  Egyptians  and  the  camp  of  Israel  ; 
and  it  was  a  cloud  and  darkness  to  them, 
but  it  gave  light  by  night  to  these  :  so  that 
the  one  came  not  near  the  other  all  the 
night.  And  Moses  stretched  out  his  hand 
over  the  sea  ;  and  the  Lord  caused  the  sea 
to  go  back  by  a  strong  east  wind  all  that 
night,  and  made  the  sea  dry  land,  and  the 
waters  were  divided.  And  the  children  of 
Israel  went  into  the  midst  of  the  sea  upon 


210  BIBLE  GEMS. 

the  dry  ground  :  and  the  waters  were  a  wall 
unto  them  on  their  right  hand,  and  on  their 
left.  .  .  .  But  the  children  of  Israel  walked 
upon  dry  land  in  the  midst  of  the  sea  ;  and 
the  waters  were  a  wall  unto  them  on  their 
right  hand,  and  on  their  left.  Thus  the  Lord 
saved  Israel  that  day  out  of  the  hand  of  the 
Egyptians ;  and  Israel  saw  the  Egyptians 
dead  upon  the  sea  shore.  And  Israel  saw 
that  great  work  which  the  Lord  did  upon 
the  Egyptians  :  and  the  people  feared  the 
Lord,  and  believed  the  Lord,  and  his  servant 
Moses. — Exodus  xiv.  13-22  ;  29-31. 

Conquest  of  Canaan.  (Read  Book  of 
Joshua.  ) 

Subjugation  of  Israel's  Enemies  by 
Judges.     (Read  Book  of  JUDGES.) 

Faith  of  Gideon  and  His  Band.  (Read 
Judges  vii. ) 

David's  Heroic  Faith.  And  when  the 
Philistine  looked  about,  and  saw  David,  he 
disdained  him  :  for  he  was  but  a  youth,  and 
ruddy,  and  of  a  fair  countenance.  And  the 
Philistine  said  unto  David,  Am  I  a  dog,  that 
thou  comest  to  me  with  staves?  And  the 
Philistine  cursed  David  by  his  gods.  And 
the  Philistine  said  to  David,  Come  to  me, 
and  I  will  give  thy  flesh  unto  the  fowls  of 
the  air,  and  to  the  beasts  of  the  field.     Then 


BIBLE  GEMS.  211 

said  David  to  the  Philistine,  Thou  comest  to 
me  with  a  sword,  and  with  a  spear,  and  with 
a  shield  :  but  I  come  to  thee  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God  of  the  armies  of 
Israel,  whom  thou  hast  defied.  This  day- 
will  the  Lord  deliver  thee  into  mine  hand  ; 
and  I  will  smite  thee,  and  take  thine  head 
from  thee  ;  and  I  will  give  the  carcasses  of 
the  host  of  the  Philistines  this  day  unto  the 
fowls  of  the  air,  and  to  the  wild  beasts  of 
the  earth  ;  that  all  the  earth  may  know  that 
there  is  a  God  in  Israel.  And  all  this  assem- 
bly shall  know  that  the  Lord  saveth  not 
with  sword  and  spear  :  for  the  battle  is  the 
Lord's,  and  he  will  give  you  into  our  hands. 
And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  Philistine 
arose,  and  came  and  drew  nigh  to  meet 
David,  that  David  hasted,  and  ran  toward 
the  army  to  meet  the  Philistine.  And  David 
put  his  hand  in  his  bag,  and  took  thence  a 
stone,  and  slang  it,  and  smote  the  Philistine 
in  his  forehead,  that  the  stone  sunk  into  his 
forehead  ;  and  he  fell  upon  his  face  to  the 
earth.  So  David  prevailed  over  the  Philis- 
tine with  a  sling  and  with  a  stone,  and  smote 
the  Philistine,  and  slew  him  ;  but  there  was 
no  sword  in  the  hand  of  David. — i  Sam. 
xvii.  42-50. 

Esther's  Faith.  Then  Esther  bade  them 
return  Mordecai  this  answer,  Go,  gather 
together  all  the  Jews  that  are  present  in 
Shushan,  and  fast  ye  for  me,  and  neither  eat 


212  BIBLE  GEMS. 

nor  drink  three  days,  night  or  day  :  I  also 
and  my  maidens  will  fast  likewise  ;  and  so 
will  I  go  in  unto  the  king,  which  is  not 
according  to  the  law  :  and  if  I  perish,  I 
perish. — Esther  iv.  15,  16. 

Submissive  Faith.     (Read  Book  of  Job.) 

Sustaining  Faith.     (Read  story  of  Daniel 
and  his  companions  in  Book  of  Daniel.  ) 

Justifying  Faith.     (Read  Paul's  Epistles 
to  Romans  and  Gai,atians.  ) 

Faith    and    Works.       (Read   Epistle    of 
James.  ) 

Marvelous    Exploits    of    Faith.      (Read 
HEB.  xi.  1-40.) 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

MODEI,  PRAYERS. 

Abraham's  Prayer.  (Read  GEN.  xviii. 
23-330 

Jacob's  Prayer  in  Trouble.  And  Jacob 
said,  O  God  of  my  father  Abraham,  and  God 
of  my  father  Isaac,  the  Lord  which  saidst 
unto  me,  Return  unto  thy  country,  and  to 
thy  kindred,  and  I  will  deal  well  with  thee  : 
I  am  not  worthy  of  the  least  of  all  the  mer- 
cies, and  of  all  the  truth,  which  thou  hast 
shewed  unto  thy  servant ;  for  with  my  staff 
I  passed  over  this  Jordan  ;  and  now  I  am  be- 
come two  bands.  Deliver  me,  I  pray  thee, 
from  the  hand  of  my  brother,  from  the 
hand  of  Esau  :  for  I  fear  him,  lest  he  will 
come  and  smite  me,  and  the  mother  with  the 
children.  And  thou  saidst,  I  will  surely  do 
thee  good,  and  make  thy  seed  as  the  sand  of 
the  sea,  which  cannot  be  numbered  for  mul- 
titude.— Gen.  xxxii.  9-12. 

Moses'  Intercessory  Prayer.  And  the 
Lord  said  unto  Moses,  How  long  will  this 
people  provoke  me  ?  and  how  long  will  it  be 
ere  they  believe  me,  for  all  the  signs  which 
I  have  shewed  among  them  ?  I  will  smite 
them  with  the  pestilence,  and  disinherit 
them,  and  will  make  of  thee  a  greater  na- 
(213) 


214  BIBLE  GEMS. 

tion  and  mightier  than  they.  And  Moses 
said  unto  the  Lord,  Then  the  Egyptians 
shall  hear  it,  (for  thou  broughtest  up  this 
people  in  thy  might  from  among  them  ;) 
and  they  will  tell  it  to  the  inhabitants  of  this 
land  :  for  they  have  heard  that  thou  Lord 
art  among  this  people,  that  thou  Lord  art 
seen  face  to  face,  and  that  thy  cloud  stand- 
eth  over  them,  and  that  thou  goest  before 
them,  by  daytime  in  a  pillar  of  a  cloud,  and 
in  a  pillar  of  fire  by  night.  Now  if  thou 
shalt  kill  all  this  people  as  one  man,  then 
the  nations  which  have  heard  the  fame  of 
thee  will  speak,  saying,  Because  the  Lord 
was  not  able  to  bring  this  people  into  the 
land  which  he  sware  unto  them,  therefore  he 
hath  slain  them  in  the  wilderness.  And 
now,  I  beseech  thee,  let  the  power  of  my 
Lord  be  great,  according  as  thou  hast 
spoken,  saying,  The  Lord  is  longsuffering, 
and  of  great  mercy,  forgiving  iniquity  and 
transgression,  and  by  no  means  clearing  the 
guilty,  visiting  the  iniquity  of  the  fathers 
upon  the  children  unto  the  third  and  fourth 
generation.  Pardon,  I  beseech  thee,  the  in- 
iquity of  this  people  according  unto  the 
greatness  of  thy  mercy,  and  as  thou  hast 
forgiven  this  people,  from  Egypt  even  until 
now.  And  the  Lord  said,  I  have  pardoned 
according  to  thy  word. — Num.  xiv.  11-20. 

A  Wise  Ruler's  Prayer.     In  Gibeon  the 
Lord  appeared  to  Solomon  in  a  dream  by 


BIBLE  GEMS.  215 

night :  and  God  said,  Ask  what  I  shall  give 
thee.  And  Solomon  said,  Thou  hast  shewed 
unto  thy  servant  David  my  father  great 
mercy,  according  as  he  walked  before  thee 
in  truth,  and  in  righteousness,  and  in  up- 
rightness of  heart  with  thee  ;  and  thou  hast 
kept  for  him  this  great  kindness,  that  thou 
hast  given  him  a  son  to  sit  on  his  throne,  as 
it  is  this  day.  And  now,  O  Lord  my  God, 
thou  hast  made  thy  servant  king  instead  of 
David  my  father :  and  I  am  but  a  little 
child  :  I  know  not  how  to  go  out  or  come  in. 
And  thy  servant  is  in  the  midst  of  thy  peo- 
ple which  thou  hast  chosen,  a  great  people, 
that  cannot  be  numbered  nor  counted  for 
multitude.  Give  therefore  thy  servant  an 
understanding  heart  to  judge  thy  people, 
that  I  may  discern  between  good  and  bad  : 
for  who  is  able  to  judge  this  thy  so  great  a 
people  ?  And  the  speech  pleased  the  Lord, 
that  Solomon  had  asked  this  thing.  And 
God  said  unto  him,  Because  thou  hast  asked 
this  thing,  and  hast  not  asked  for  thyself 
long  life  ;  neither  hast  asked  riches  for  thy- 
self, nor  hast  asked  the  life  of  thine  ene- 
mies ;  but  hast  asked  for  thyself  understand- 
ing to  discern  judgment ;  behold,  I  have 
done  according  to  thy  word  :  lo,  I  have  given 
thee  a  wise  and  an  understanding  heart ;  so 
that  there  was  none  like  thee  before  thee, 
neither  after  thee  shall  any  arise  like  unto 
thee.  And  I  have  also  given  thee  that  which 
thou  has  not  asked,  both  riches,  and  honour  : 


216  BIBLE  GEMS. 

so  that  there  shall  not  be  any  among  the 
kings  like  unto  thee  all  thy  days.  And  if 
thou  wilt  walk  in  my  ways,  to  keep  my 
statutes  and  my  commandments,  as  thy 
father  David  did  walk,  then  I  will  lengthen 
thy  days. — i  Kings  iii.  5-14. 

Solomon's  Dedicatory  Prayer.  (Read 
2  Chron.  vi.) 

Nehemiah's  Prayer.  And  it  came  to  pass, 
when  I  heard  these  words,  that  I  sat  down 
and  wept,  and  mourned  certain  days,  and 
fasted,  and  prayed  before  the  God  of  heaven, 
and  said,  I  beseech  thee,  O  Lord  God  of 
heaven,  the  great  and  terrible  God,  that 
keepeth  covenant  and  mercy  for  them  that 
love  him  and  observe  his  commandments  : 
let  thine  ear  now  be  attentive,  and  thine 
eyes  open,  that  thou  may  est  hear  the  prayer 
of  thy  servant,  which  I  pray  before  thee 
now,  day  and  night,  for  the  children  of 
Israel  thy  servants,  and  confess  the  sins  of 
the  children  of  Israel,  which  we  have  sinned 
against  thee  :  both  I  and  my  father's  house 
have  sinned.  We  have  dealt  very  corruptly 
against  thee,  and  have  not  kept  the  com- 
mandments, nor  the  statutes,  nor  the  judg- 
ments, which  thou  commandedst  thy  servant 
Moses.  Remember,  I  beseech  thee,  the 
word  that  thou  commandedst  thy  servant 
Moses,  saying,  If  ye  transgress,  I  will  scatter 
you  abroad  among  the  nations  :   but  if    ye 


BIBLE  GEMS.  217 

turn  unto  me,  and  keep  my  commandments, 
and  do  them  ;  though  there  were  of  you  cast 
out  unto  the  uttermost  part  of  the  heaven,  yet 
will  I  gather  them  from  thence,  and  will 
bring  them  unto  the  place  that  I  have  chosen 
to  set  my  name  there.  Now  these  are  thy 
servants  and  thy  people,  whom  thou  hast 
redeemed  by  thy  great  power,  and  by  thy 
strong  hand.  O  Lord,  I  beseech  thee,  let 
now  thine  ear  be  attentive  to  the  prayer  of 
thy  servant,  and  to  the  prayer  of  thy  serv- 
ants, who  desire  to  fear  thy  name :  and 
prosper,  I  pray  thee,  thy  servant  this  day, 
and  grant  him  mercy  in  the  sight  of  this 
man.  For  I  was  the  king's  cupbearer. — 
Nkh.  i.  4-11. 

The  Penitent's  Prayer.  Have  mercy  upon 
me,  O  God,  according  to  thy  lovingkind- 
ness  :  according  unto  the  multitude  of  thy 
tender  mercies  blot  out  my  transgressions. 
Wash  me  thoroughly  from  mine  iniquity, 
and  cleanse  me  from  my  sin.  For  I  ac- 
knowledge my  transgressions  :  and  my  sin  is 
ever  before  me.  Against  thee,  thee  only, 
have  I  sinned,  and  done  this  evil  in  thy 
sight :  that  thou  mightest  be  justified  when 
thou  speakest,  and  be  clear  when  thou 
judgest.  Behold,  I  was  shapen  in  iniquity  ; 
and  in  sin  did  my  mother  conceive  me.  Be- 
hold, thou  desirest  truth  in  the  inward 
parts  :  and  in  the  hidden  part  thou  shalt 
make  me  to  know  wisdom.     Purge  me  with 


218  BIBLE  GEMS. 

hyssop,  and  I  shall  be  clean  :  wash  me,  and 
I  shall  be  whiter  than  snow.  Make  me  to 
hear  joy  and  gladness  ;  that  the  bones  which 
thou  hast  broken  may  rejoice.  Hide  thy 
face  from  my  sins,  and  blot  out  all  mine  in- 
iquities. Create  in  me  a  clean  heart,  0  God  ; 
and  renew  a  right  spirit  within  me.  Cast 
me  not  away  from  thy  presence  ;  and  take 
not  thy  Holy  Spirit  from  me.  Restore  unto 
me  the  joy  of  thy  salvation  ;  and  uphold  me 
with  thy  free  Spirit.  Then  will  I  teach 
transgressors  thy  ways ;  and  sinners  shall  be 
converted  unto  thee.  Deliver  me  from 
bloodguiltiness,  O  God,  thou  God  of  my  salva- 
tion :  and  my  tongue  shall  sing  aloud  of  thy 
righteousness.  0  Lord,  open  thou  my  lips  ; 
and  my  mouth  shall  shew  forth  thy  praise. 
For  thou  desirest  not  sacrifice  ;  else  would  I 
give  it  :  thou  delightest  not  in  burnt  offer- 
ing. The  sacrifices  of  God  are  a  broken 
spirit :  a  broken  and  a  contrite  heart,  O  God, 
thou  wilt  not  despise.  Do  good  in  thy  good 
pleasure  unto  Zion  :  build  thou  the  walls  of 
Jerusalem.  Then  shalt  thou  be  pleased  with 
the  sacrifices  of  righteousness,  with  burnt 
offering  and  whole  burnt  offering :  then 
shall  they  offer  bullocks  upon  thine  altar. 
— Psai,m  li.  i -i 9. 

A  Prayer  for  the  Distressed.  Out  of  the 
depths  have  I  cried  unto  thee,  O  Lord. 
Lord,  hear  my  voice  :  let  thine  ears  be  at- 
tentive to  the  voice  of  my  supplications.     If 


BIBLE  GEMS.  219 

thou,  Lord,  shouldest  mark  iniquities,  O 
Lord,  who  shall  stand  ?  But  there  is  for- 
giveness with  thee,  that  thou  mayest  be 
feared.  I  wait  for  the  Lord,  my  soul  doth 
wait,  and  in  his  word  do  I  hope.  My  soul 
waiteth  for  the  Lord  more  than  they  that 
watch  for  the  morning  :  I  say,  more  than 
they  that  watch  for  the  morning.  Let  Israel 
hope  in  the  Lord  :  for  with  the  Lord  there  is 
mercy,  and  with  him  is  plenteous  redemp- 
tion. And  he  shall  redeem  Israel  from  all 
his  iniquities. — Psauvi  cxxx.  i-8. 

A  Prayer  for  Guidance.  Hear  my  pra)'er, 
O  Lord,  give  ear  to  my  supplications  :  in  thy 
faithfulness  answer  me,  and  in  thy  right- 
eousness. And  enter  not  into  judgment 
with  thy  servant  :  for  in  thy  sight  shall  no 
man  living  be  justified.  For  the  enemy 
hath  persecuted  my  soul  ;  he  hath  smitten 
my  life  down  to  the  ground  ;  he  hath  made 
me  to  dwell  in  darkness,  as  those  that  have 
been  long  dead.  Therefore  is  my  spirit  over- 
whelmed within  me  ;  my  heart  within  me  is 
desolate.  I  remember  the  days  of  old  ;  I 
meditate  on  all  thy  works ;  I  muse  on  the 
work  of  thy  hands.  I  stretch  forth  my 
hands  unto  thee  :  my  soul  thirsteth  after 
thee,  as  a  thirsty  land.  Hear  me  speedily, 
O  Lord  ;  my  spirit  faileth  :  hide  not  thy 
face  from  me,  lest  I  be  like  unto  them  that 
go  down  into  the  pit.  Cause  me  to  hear  thy 
lovingkindness  in  the  morning ;  for  in  thee 


1220  BIBLE  GEMS. 

do  I  trust  :  cause  me  to  know  the  way 
wherein  I  should  walk  ;  for  I  lift  up  my  soul 
unto  thee.  Deliver  me,  O  Lord,  from  mine 
enemies  :  I  flee  unto  thee  to  hide  me.  Teach 
me  to  do  thy  will  ;  for  thou  art  my  God  : 
thy  Spirit  is  good  ;  lead  me  into  the  land  of 
uprightness.  Quicken  me,  O  Lord,  for  thy 
name's  sake :  for  thy  righteousness'  sake 
bring  my  soul  out  of  trouble.  And  of  thy 
mercy  cut  off  mine  enemies,  and  destroy 
all  them  that  afflict  my  soul  :  for  I  am  thy 
servant. — Psai,m  cxliii.  1-12. 

Hezekiah's  Prayer.  And  Hezekiah  re- 
ceived the  letter  of  the  hand  of  the  messen- 
gers, and  read  it  :  and  Hezekiah  went  up 
into  the  house  of  the  Lord,  and  spread  it 
before  the  Lord.  And  Hezekiah  prayed  be- 
fore the  Lord,  and  said,  O  Lord  God  of  Is- 
rael, which  dwellest  between  the  cherubim, 
thou  art  the  God,  even  thou  alone,  of  all  the 
kingdoms  of  the  earth ;  thou  hast  made 
heaven  and  earth.  Lord,  bow  down  thine  ear, 
and  hear :  open,  Lord,  thine  eyes,  and  see  : 
and  hear  the  words  of  Sennacherib,  which 
hath  sent  him  to  reproach  the  living  God.  Of 
a  truth,  Lord,  the  kings  of  Assyria  have  de- 
stroyed the  nations  and  their  lands,  and 
have  cast  their  gods  into  the  fire  :  for  they 
were  no  gods,  but  the  work  of  men's  hands, 
wood  and  stone  :  therefore  they  have  de- 
stroyed them.  Now  therefore,  O  Lord  our 
God,  I  beseech  thee,  save  thou  us  out  of  his 


BIBLE  GEMS.  221 

hand,  that  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth 
may  know  that  thou  art  the  Lord  God,  even 
thou  only. — 2  Kings  xix.  14-19. 

Ezra's  Prayer  of  Confession.  And  at  the 
evening  sacrifice  I  arose  up  from  my  heavi- 
ness ;  and  having  rent  my  garment  and  my 
mantle,  I  fell  upon  my  knees,  and  spread 
out  my  hands  unto  the  Lord  my  God,  and 
said,  O  my  God,  I  am  ashamed  and  blush  to 
lift  up  my  face  to  thee,  my  God  :  for  our 
iniquities  are  increased  over  our  head,  and 
our  trespass  is  grown  up  unto  the  heavens. 
Since  the  days  of  our  fathers  have  we  been 
in  a  great  trespass  unto  this  day  ;  and  for 
our  iniquities  have  we,  our  kings,  and  our 
priests,  been  delivered  into  the  hand  of  the 
kings  of  the  lands,  to  the  sword,  to  captivity, 
and  to  a  spoil,  and  to  confusion  of  face,  as  it 
is  this  day.  And  now  for  a  little  space  grace 
hath  been  shewed  from  the  Lord  our  God, 
to  leave  us  a  remnant  to  escape,  and  to  give 
us  a  nail  in  his  holy  place,  that  our  God 
may  lighten  our  eyes,  and  give  us  a  little  re- 
viving in  our  bondage.  For  we  were  bond- 
men ;  yet  our  God  hath  not  forsaken  us  in 
our  bondage,  but  hath  extended  mercy  unto 
us  in  the  sight  of  the  kings  of  Persia,  to  give 
us  a  reviving,  to  set  up  the  house  of  our 
God,  and  to  repair  the  desolations  thereof, 
and  to  give  us  a  wall  in  Judah  and  in  Jeru- 
salem. And  now,  O  our  God,  what  shall  we 
say  after  this  ?  for  we  have  forsaken  thy  com- 


222  BIBLE  GEMS. 

mandments,  which  thou  hast  commanded 
by  thy  servants  the  prophets,  saying,  The 
land,  unto  which  ye  go  to  possess  it,  is  an 
unclean  laud  with  the  filthiness  of  the  peo- 
ple of  the  lands,  with  their  abominations, 
which  have  filled  it  from  one  end  to  another 
with  their  uncleanness.  Now  therefore  give 
not  your  daughters  unto  their  sons,  neither 
take  their  daughters  unto  your  sons,  nor 
seek  their  peace  or  their  wealth  for  ever  : 
that  ye  may  be  strong,  and  eat  the  good  of 
the  land,  and  leave  it  for  an  inheritance  to 
your  children  for  ever.  And  after  all  that  is 
come  upon  us  for  our  evil  deeds,  and  for  our 
great  trespass,  seeing  that  thou  our  God 
hast  punished  us  less  than  our  iniquities 
deserve,  and  hast  given  us  such  deliverance 
as  this  ;  should  we  again  break  thy  com- 
mandments, and  join  in  affinity  with  the 
people  of  these  abominations  ?  wouldest 
not  thou  be  angry  with  us  till  thou  hadst 
consumed  us,  so  that  there  should  be  no 
remnant  nor  escaping  ?  O  Lord  God  of  Is- 
rael, thou  art  righteous  ;  for  we  remain  yet 
escaped,  as  it  is  this  day  :  behold,  we  are 
before  thee  in  our  trespasses  ;  for  we  cannot 
stand  before  thee  because  of  this. — Ezra  ix. 
5-15- 

Daniel's    Prayer   of   Confession.      (Read 
Dan.  ix.  3-21.) 

The    Lord's    Prayer.     After  this   manner 
therefore  pray  ye  :  Our  Father  which  art  in 


BIBLE  GEMS.  223 

heaven,  Hallowed  be  thy  name.  Thy  king- 
dom come.  Thy  will  be  done  in  earth,  as  it 
is  in  heaven.  Give  us  this  day  our  daily 
bread.  And  forgive  us  our  debts,  as  we  for- 
give our  debtors.  And  lead  us  not  into 
temptation,  but  deliver  us  from  evil :  For 
thine  is  the*  kingdom,  and  the  power,  and 
the  glory,  for  ever.     Amen. — MaTT.  vi.  9-13. 

The  Unavailing  versus  the  Availing 
Prayer.  And  he  spake  a  parable  unto  them  to 
this  end,  that  men  ought  always  to  pray,  and 
not  to  faint  ;  saying,  There  was  in  a  city  a 
judge,  which  feared  not  God,  neither  regarded 
man  :  and  there  was  a  widow  in  that  city  ; 
and  she  came  unto  him,  saying,  Avenge  me 
of  mine  adversary.  And  he  would  not  for  a 
while  :  but  afterward  he  said  within  himself, 
Though  I  fear  not  God,  nor  regard  man  ; 
yet  because  this  widow  troubleth  me,  I  will 
avenge  her,  lest  by  her  continual  coming 
she  weary  me.  And  the  Lord  said,  Hear 
what  the  unjust  judge  saith.  And  shall  not 
God  avenge  his  own  elect,  which  cry  day 
and  night  unto  him,  though  he  bear  long 
with  them  ?  I  tell  you  that  he  will  avenge 
them  speedily.  Nevertheless,  when  the  Son 
of  man  cometh,  shall  he  find  faith  on  the 
earth  ?  And  he  spake  this  parable  unto  cer- 
tain which  trusted  in  themselves  that  they 
were  righteous,  and  despised  others  :  Two 
men  went  up  into  the  temple  to  pray  ;  the 
one  a  Pharisee,  and  the  other  a  publican. 


224  BIBLE  GEMS. 

The  Pharisee  stood  and  prayed  thus  with 
himself,  God,  I  thank  thee,  that  I  am  not  as 
other  men  are,  extortioners,  unjust,  adulter- 
ers, or  even  as  this  publican.  I  fast  twice  in 
the  week,  I  give  tithes  of  all  that  I  possess. 
And  the  publican,  standing  afar  off,  would 
not  lift  up  so  much  as  his  eyes  unto  heaven, 
but  smote  upon  his  breast,  saying,  God  be 
merciful  to  me  a  sinner.  I  tell  you,  this 
man  went  down  to  his  house  justified  rather 
than  the  other  :  for  every  one  that  exalteth 
himself  shall  be  abased  ;  and  he  that  huni- 
bleth  himself  shall  be  exalted. — Luke  xviii. 
1-14. 

The  Centurion's  Prayer.  And  when  Jesus 
was  entered  into  Capernaum,  there  came 
unto  him  a  centurion,  beseeching  him,  and 
saying,  Lord,  my  servant  lieth  at  home  sick 
of  the  palsy,  grievously  tormented.  And 
Jesus  saith  unto  him,  I  will  come  and  heal 
him.  The  centurion  answered  and  said, 
Lord,  I  am  not  worthy  that  thou  shouldest 
come  under  my  roof :  but  speak  the  word 
only,  and  my  servant  shall  be  healed.  For 
I  am  a  man  under  authority,  having  soldiers 
under  me  :  and  I  say  to  this  man,  Go,  and  he 
goeth  ;  and  to  another,  Come,  and  he  cometh ; 
and  to  my  servant,  Do  this,  and  he  doeth  it. 
When  Jesus  heard  it,  he  marvelled,  and  said 
to  them  that  followed,  Verily  I  say  unto 
you,  I  have  not  found  so  great  faith,  no,  not 
in  Israel.     And  I  say  unto  you,  That  many 


BIBLE  GEMS.  225 

shall  come  from  the  east  and  west,  and  shall 
sit  down  with  Abraham,  and  Isaac,  and 
Jacob,  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven  :  but  the 
children  of  the  kingdom  shall  be  cast  out 
into  outer  darkness  :  there  shall  be  weeping 
and  gnashing  of  teeth.  And  Jesus  said  unto 
the  centurion,  Go  thy  way  ;  and  as  thou  hast 
believed,  so  be  it  done  unto  thee.  And  his 
servant  was  healed  in  the  selfsame  hour. — 
Matt.  viii.  5-13. 

A  Blind  Man's  Prayer.  And  they  came 
to  Jericho  :  and  as  he  went  out  of  Jericho 
with  his  disciples  and  a  great  number  of  peo- 
ple, blind  Bartimeus,  the  son  of  Timeus,  sat 
by  the  highway  side  begging.  And  when 
he  heard  that  it  was  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  he 
began  to  cry  out,  and  say,  Jesus,  thou  Son 
of  David,  have  mercy  on  me.  And  many 
charged  him  that  he  should  hold  his  peace  : 
but  he  cried  the  more  a  great  deal,  Thou 
Son  of  David,  have  mercy  on  me.  And 
Jesus  stood  still,  and  commanded  him  to  be 
called.  And  they  call  the  blind  man,  saying 
unto  him,  Be  of  good  comfort,  rise  ;  he 
calleth  thee.  And  he,  casting  away  his  gar- 
ment, rose,  and  came  to  Jesus.  And  Jesus 
answered  and  said  unto  him,  What  wilt  thou 
that  I  should  do  unto  thee  ?  The  blind  man 
said  unto  him,  Lord,  that  I  might  receive  my 
sight.  And  Jesus  said  unto  him,  Go  thy 
way  ;  thy  faith  hath  made  thee  whole.  And 
immediately    he    received    his    sight,    and 


226  BIBLE  GEMS. 

followed    Jesus    in     the    way. — Mark    x. 

46-52. 

Christ's  Sacerdotal  Prayer.  (Read  John 
xvii.  1-26.) 

A  Dying  Man's  Prayer.  And  they  stoned 
Stephen,  calling  upon  God,  and  saying,  Lord 
Jesus,  receive  my  spirit.  And  he  kneeled 
down,  and  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  Lord,  lay 
not  this  sin  to  their  charge.  And  when  he 
had  said  this,  he  fell  asleep. — Acts  vii. 
59,6o. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

PRECIOUS  PROMISES. 

Earth's  Fertility  Perpetually  Promised. 
While  the  earth  remaiueth,  seedtime  and 
harvest,  and  cold  and  heat,  and  summer  and 
winter,  and  day  and  night  shall  not  cease. — 
Gen.  viii.  22. 

God's  Presence  Promised.  And  he  said, 
My  presence  shall  go  with  thee,  and  I  will 
give  thee  rest.  .  .  .  Fear  thou  not  :  for  I  am 
with  thee  :  be  not  dismayed  ;  for  I  am  thy 
God  :  I  will  strengthen  thee  ;  yea,  I  will  help 
thee  ;  yea,  I  will  uphold  thee  with  the  right 
hand  of  my  righteousness.  .  .  .  Jesus  an- 
swered and  said  unto  him,  If  a  man  love  me, 
he  will  keep  my  words  :  and  my  Father  will 
love  him,  and  we  will  come  unto  him,  and 
make  our  abode  with  him. — Ex.  xxxiii.  14  ; 
Isa.  xli.  10  ;  John  xiv.  23. 

God's  Help  Promised.  The  eternal  God 
is  thy  refuge,  and  underneath  are  the  ever- 
lasting arms  :  and  he  shall  thrust  out  the  ene- 
my from  before  thee  ;  and  shall  say,  Destroy 
them.  .  .  .  For  I  the  Lord  thy  God  will  hold 
thy  right  hand,  saying  unto  thee,  Fear  not ;  I 
will  help  thee.  Fear  not,  thou  worm  Jacob, 
and  ye  men  of  Israel  ;  I  will  help  thee,  saith 
(227) 


228  BIBLE  GEMS. 

the  Lord,  and  thy  Redeemer,  the  Holy  One 
of  Israel. — Deut.  xxxiii.  27  ;  Isa.  xli.  13,  14. 

God's  Care  Promised.  He  shall  feed  his 
flock  like  a  shepherd  :  he  shall  gather  the 
lambs  with  his  arm,  and  carry  them  in  his 
bosom,  and  shall  gently  lead  those  that  are 
with  young.  ...  A  bruised  reed  shall  he  not 
break,  and  the  smoking  flax  shall  he  not 
quench  :  he  shall  bring  forth  judgment  unto 
truth. — Isa.  xl.  11  ;  xlii.  3. 

God's  Comfort  Promised.  For  a  small  mo- 
ment have  I  forsaken  thee  ;  but  with  great 
mercies  will  I  gather  thee.  In  a  little  wrath 
I  hid  my  face  from  thee  for  a  moment ;  but 
with  everlasting  kindness  will  I  have  mercy 
on  thee,  saith  the  Lord  thy  Redeemer. — 
ISA.  liv.  7,  8. 

The  Kingdom  Promised.  Fear  not,  little 
flock  ;  for  it  is  your  Father's  good  pleasure 
to  give  you  the  kingdom. — Luke  xii.  32. 

Safety  of  the  Godly  Promised.  Behold, 
he  that  keepeth  Israel  shall  neither  slumber 
nor  sleep.  The  Lord  is  thy  keeper  :  the  Lord 
is  thy  shade  upon  thy  right  hand. — Psai^m 
cxxi.  4,  5. 

Earthly  Support  Promised.  Trust  in  the 
Lord,  and  do  good  ;  so  shalt  thou  dwell  in 
the  land,  and  verily  thou  shalt  be  fed.  De- 
light thyself  also  in  the  Lord  ;  and  he  shall 


BIBLE  GEMS.  229 

give  thee  the  desires  of  thine  heart.  Commit 
thy  way  unto  the  Lord  ;  trust  also  in  him  ; 
and  he  shall  bring  it  to  pass.  .  .  .  But  seek 
ye  first  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  his  right- 
eousness ;  and  all  these  things  shall  be 
added  unto  you. — Psai,m  xxxvii.  3-5  ;  Matt. 
vi.  33- 

Support  in  Trouble.  For  in  the  time  of 
trouble  he  shall  hide  me  in  his  pavilion  :  in 
the  secret  of  his  tabernacle  shall  he  hide  me  ; 
he  shall  set  me  up  upon  a  rock.  .  .  .  When 
my  father  and  my  mother  forsake  me,  then 
the  Lord  will  take  me  up.  .  .  .  Wait  on  the 
Lord :  be  of  good  courage,  and  he  shall 
strengthen  thine  heart :  waif ,  I  say,  on  the 
Lord. — Psai,m  xxvii.  5,  10,  14. 

Safekeeping  in  God's  Pavilion.  He  that 
dwelleth  in  the  secret  place  of  the  Most  High 
shall  abide  under  the  shadow  of  the  Al- 
mighty. .  .  .  He  shall  cover  thee  with  his 
feathers,  and  under  his  wings  shalt  thou  trust: 
his  truth  shall  be  thy  shield  and  buckler. 
Thou  shalt  not  be  afraid  for  the  terror  by 
night ;  nor  for  the  arrow  that  flieth  by  day  ; 
nor  for  the  pestilence  that  walketh  in  dark- 
ness ;  nor  for  the  destruction  that  wasteth  at 
noonday.  A  thousand  shall  fall  at  thy  side, 
and  ten  thousand  at  thy  right  hand  ;  but  it 
shall  not  come  nigh  thee.  Only  with  thine 
eyes  shalt  thou  behold  and  see  the  reward  of 
the  wicked.     Because   thou   hast  made   the 


230  BIBLE  GEMS. 

Lord,  which  is  my  refuge,  even  the  Most 
High,  thy  habitation  ;  there  shall  no  evil 
befall  thee,  neither  shall  any  plague  come 
nigh  thy  dwelling. — PSAI.M  xci.  I,  4-10. 

Divine  Mercy  Promised.  Who  forgiveth 
all  thine  iniquities  ;  who  healeth  all  thy  dis- 
eases ;  who  redeemeth  thy  life  from  destruc- 
tion ;  who  crowneth  thee  with  lovingkind- 
ness  and  tender  mercies  :  who  satisfieth  thy 
mouth  with  good  things  ;  so  that  thy  youth 
is  renewed  like  the  eagle's.  .  .  .  The  Lord  is 
merciful  and  gracious,  slow  to  anger,  and 
plenteous  in  mercy.  He  will  not  always 
chide  :  neither  will  he  keep  his  anger  for 
ever.  He  hath  not  dealt  with  us  after  our 
sins  ;  nor  rewarded  us  according  to  our  ini- 
quities. For  as  the  heaven  is  high  above 
the  earth,  so  great  is  his  mercy  toward  them 
that  fear  him.  As  far  as  the  east  is  from  the 
west,  so  far  hath  he  removed  our  transgres- 
sions from  us.  Like  as  a  father  pitieth  his 
children,  so  the  Lord  pitieth  them  that  fear 
him.  For  he  knoweth  our  frame  ;  he  re- 
membereth  that  we  are  dust. — Psai^m  ciii. 
3-5,  8-14. 

Guidance  and  Plenty.  Trust  in  the  Lord 
with  all  thine  heart ;  and  lean  not  unto  thine 
own  understanding.  In  all  thy  ways  ac- 
knowledge him,  and  he  shall  direct  thy 
paths.  Be  not  wise  in  thine  own  eyes  :  fear 
the  Lord,  and  depart  from  evil.     It  shall  be 


BIBLE  GEMS.  231 

health  to  thy  navel,  and  marrow  to  thy 
bones.  Honour  the  Lord  with  thy  substance, 
and  with  the  firstfruits  of  all  thine  increase  : 
so  shall  thy  barns  be  filled  with  plenty,  and 
thy  presses  shall  burst  out  with  new  wine. — 
Prov.  iii.  5-10. 

Help  in  Trouble.  When  thou  passest 
through  the  waters,  I  will  be  with  thee  ;  and 
through  the  rivers,  they  shall  not  overflow 
thee  :  when  thou  walkest  through  the  fire, 
thou  shalt  not  be  burned  ;  neither  shall  the 
flame  kindle  upon  thee.  For  I  am  the  Lord 
thy  God,  the  Holy  One  of  Israel,  thy  Saviour  : 
I  gave  Egypt  for  thy  ransom,  Ethiopia  and 
Seba  for  thee. — ISA.  xliii.  2,  3. 

Spiritual  Renewal  Promised.  But  they 
that  wait  upon  the  Lord  shall  renew  their 
strength  ;  they  shall  mount  up  with  wings  as 
eagles ;  they  shall  run,  and  not  be  weary  ; 
and  they  shall  walk,  and  not  faint — ISA. 
xl.31.    ' 

Rest  for  the  Soul  Promised.  Thus  saith 
the  Lord,  Stand  ye  in  the  ways,  and  see,  and 
ask  for  the  old  paths,  where  is  the  good  way, 
and  walk  therein,  and  ye  shall  find  rest  for 
your  souls.  But  they  said,  We  will  not  walk 
therein. — JKR.  vi.  16. 

Blessings  in  Judgment.  But  unto  you  that 
fear  my  name  shall  the  Sun  of  righteousness 


232  BIBLE  GEMS. 

arise  with  healing  in  his  wings  ;  and  ye  shall 
go  forth,  and  grow  up  as  calves  of  the  stall. 
And  ye  shall  tread  down  the  wicked  ;  for 
they  shall  be  ashes  under  the  soles  of  your 
feet  in  the  day  that  I  shall  do  this,  saith  the 
Lord  of  hosts. — Mai,,  iv.  2,  3. 

Raiment  Promised.  Therefore  I  say  unto 
you,  Take  no  thought  for  your  life,  what  ye 
shall  eat,  or  what  ye  shall  drink  ;  nor  yet  for 
your  body,  what  ye  shall  put  on.  Is  not  the 
life  more  than  meat,  and  the  body  than  rai- 
ment ?  Behold  the  fowls  of  the  air  :  for  they 
sow  not,  neither  do  they  reap,  nor  gather 
into  barns  ;  yet  your  heavenly  Father  feedeth 
them.  Are  ye  not  much  better  than  they  ? 
Which  of  you  by  taking  thought  can  add 
one  cubit  unto  his  stature  ?  And  why  take 
ye  thought  for  raiment  ?  Consider  the  lilies 
of  the  field,  how  they  grow  ;  they  toil  not, 
neither  do  they  spin  :  and  yet  I  say  unto  you, 
That  even  Solomon  in  all  his  glory  was  not 
arrayed  like  one  of  these.  Wherefore,  if  God 
so  clothe  the  grass  of  the  field,  which  to  day- 
is,  and  to  morrow  is  cast  into  the  oven,  shall 
he  not  much  more  clothe  you,  O  ye  of  little 
faith  ?  Therefore  take  no  thought,  saying, 
What  shall  we  eat  ?  or,  What  shall  we  drink  ? 
or,  Wherewithal  shall  we  be  clothed  ?  ( for 
after  all  these  things  do  the  Gentiles  seek  :) 
for  your  heavenly  Father  knoweth  that  ye 
have  need  of  all  these  things. — Matt.  vi. 
25-32- 


BIBLE  GEMS.  233 

Life  Promised.  Jesus  said  unto  her,  I  am 
the  resurrection,  and  the  life  :  he  that  be- 
lieveth  in  me,  though  he  were  dead,  yet 
shall  he  live. — John  xi.  25. 

God's  Spirit  Promised.  And  the  peace  of 
God,  which  passeth  all  understanding,  shall 
keep  your  hearts  and  minds  through  Christ 
Jesus.  .  .  .  And  I  will  pray  the  Father, 
and  he  shall  give  you  another  Comforter, 
that  he  may  abide  with  you  for  ever ;  even 
the  Spirit  of  truth  ;  whom  the  world  can- 
not receive,  because  it  seeth  him  not,  neither 
knoweth  him  :  but  ye  know  him  ;  for  he 
dwelleth  with  you,  and  shall  be  in  you.  I 
will  not  leave  you  comfortless  :  I  will  come 
to  you. — Phii,.  iv.  7  ;  John  xiv.  16-18. 

God's  Grace  Sufficient.  And  he  said  unto 
me,  My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee  :  for  my 
strength  is  made  perfect  in  weakness.  Most 
gladly  therefore  will  I  rather  glory  in  my  in- 
firmities, that  the  power  of  Christ  may  rest 
upon  me. — 2  Cor.  xii.  9. 

Illumination  Promised.  Then  spake  Jesus 
again  unto  them,  saying,  I  am  the  light  of 
the  world  :  he  that  followeth  me  shall  not 
walk  in  darkness,  but  shall  have  the  light  of 
life. — John  viii.  12. 

Answer  to  Prayer.  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto 
you,  He  that  believeth  on  me,  the  works  that 


234  BIBLE  GEMS. 

I  do  shall  he  do  also  ;  and  greater  works 
than  these  shall  he  do  ;  because  I  go  unto 
my  Father.  And  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  in 
my  name,  that  will  I  do,  that  the  Father  may 
be  glorified  in  the  Son.  If  ye  shall  ask  any 
thing  in  my  name,  I  will  do  it.  .  .  .  If  ye 
abide  in  me,  and  my  words  abide  in  you,  ye 
shall  ask  what  ye  will,  and  it  shall  be  done 
unto  you. — John  xiv.  12-14  ;  xv.  7. 

Wisdom  Promised.  If  any  of  you  lack 
wisdom,  let  him  ask  of  God,  that  giveth  to 
all  men  liberally,  and  upbraideth  not  ;  and  it 
shall  be  given  him. — J  AMES  i.  5. 

The  Crown  Promised.  And  when  the 
chief  Shepherd  shall  appear,  ye  shall  receive 
a  crown  of  glory  that  fadeth  not  away.  .  .  . 
Be  thou  faithful  unto  death,  and  I  will  give 
thee  a  crown  of  life. — 1  PETER  v.  4 ;  Rev. 
ii.  10,  last  clause. 

Sorrow  Forever  Dispelled.  And  God  shall 
wipe  away  all  tears  from  their  eyes  ;  and 
there  shall  be  no  more  death,  neither  sorrow, 
nor  crying,  neither  shall  there  be  any  more 
pain  :  for  the  former  things  are  passed  away. 
— REV.  xxi.  4. 

Heaven  Promised.  Blessed  are  they  that  do 
his  commandments,  that  they  may  have  right 
to  the  tree  of  life,  and  may  enter  in  through 
the  gates  into  the  city. — Rev.  xxii.  14. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE   GRACIOUS  INVITATIONS. 

Offers  of  Cleansing  and  Help.  Come 
now,  and  let  us  reason  together,  saith  the 
Lord  :  though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet,  they 
shall  be  as  white  as  snow ;  though  they  be 
red  like  crimson,  they  shall  be  as  wool.  If 
ye  be  willing  and  obedient,  ye  shall  eat  the 
good  of  the  land  :  but  if  ye  refuse  and  rebel, 
ye  shall  be  devoured  with  the  sword  :  for 
the  mouth  of  the  L,ord  hath  spoken  it. — 
ISA.  i.  18-20. 

God's  Gracious  Call  of  Gentiles.  Ho, 
every  one  that  thirsteth,  come  ye  to  the 
waters,  and  he  that  hath  no  money  ;  come 
ye,  buy,  and  eat ;  yea,  come,  buy  wine  and 
milk  without  money  and  without  price. 
Wherefore  do  ye  spend  money  for  that 
which  is  not  bread  ?  and  your  labour  for  that 
which  satisfieth  not  ?  hearken  diligently  unto 
me,  and  eat  ye  that  which  is  good,  and  let 
your  soul  delight  itself  in  fatness.  Incline 
your  ear,  and  come  unto  me  :  hear,  and  your 
soul  shall  live  ;  and  I  will  make  an  everlasting 
covenant  with  you,  even  the  sure  mercies  of 
David.  Behold,  I  have  given  him  for  a  wit- 
ness to  the  people,  a  leader  and  commander 
to  the  people.  Behold,  thou  shalt  call  a 
nation  that  thou  knowest  not,  and  nations 
(235) 


236  BIBLE  GEMS. 

that  knew  not  thee  shall  run  unto  thee, 
because  of  the  Lord  thy  God,  and  for  the 
Holy  One  of  Israel ;  for  he  hath  glorified 
thee.  Seek  ye  the  Lord  while  he  may  be 
found,  call  ye  upon  him  while  he  is  near  : 
let  the  wicked  forsake  his  way,  and  the  un- 
righteous man  his  thoughts :  and  let  him 
return  unto  the  Lord,  and  he  will  have 
mercy  upon  him ;  and  to  our  God,  for  he 
will  abundantly  pardon.  For  my  thoughts 
are  not  your  thoughts,  neither  are  your  ways 
my  ways,  saith  the  Lord.  For  as  the  heavens 
are  higher  than  the  earth,  so  are  my  ways 
higher  than  your  ways,  and  my  thoughts 
than  your  thoughts.  For  as  the  rain  cometh 
down,  and  the  snow  from  heaven,  and  re- 
turneth  not  thither,  but  watereth  the  earth, 
and  maketh  it  bring  forth  and  bud,  that  it 
may  give  seed  to  the  sower,  and  bread  to  the 
eater  :  so  shall  my  word  be  that  goeth  forth 
out  of  my  mouth  :  it  shall  not  return  unto 
me  void,  but  it  shall  accomplish  that  which 
I  please,  and  it  shall  prosper  in  the  thing 
whereto  I  sent  it.  For  ye  shall  go  out  with 
joy,  and  be  led  forth  with  peace  :  the  mount- 
ains and  the  hills  shall  break  forth  before 
you  into  singing,  and  all  the  trees  of  the 
field  shall  clap  their  hands.  Instead  of  the 
thorn  shall  come  up  the  fir  tree,  and  instead 
of  the  brier  shall  come  up  the  myrtle  tree  : 
and  it  shall  be  to  the  Lord  for  a  name,  for  an 
everlasting  sign  that  shall  not  be  cut  off. — 
ISA.  Iv.  1-13. 


BIBLE  GEMS.  237 

Gleams  of  the  Gospel  in  Ezekiel.  There- 
fore, O  thou  son  of  man,  speak  unto  the 
house  of  Israel  ;  Thus  ye  speak,  saying,  If 
our  transgressions  and  our  sins  be  upon  us, 
and  we  pine  away  in  them,  how  should  we 
then  live?  Say  unto  them,  As  I  live,  saith 
the  Lord  God,  I  have  no  pleasure  in  the 
death  of  the  wicked  ;  but  that  the  wicked 
turn  from  his  way  and  live  :  turn  ye,  turn 
ye  from  your  evil  ways  ;  for  why  will  ye  die, 
O  house  of  Israel? — Ezek.  xxxiii.  10,  ir. 

The  Saviour's  Welcome  to  the  Weary. 
Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labour  and  are 
heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest.  Take 
my  yoke  upon  you,  and  learn  of  me ;  for  I 
am  meek  and  lowly  in  heart :  and  ye  shall 
find  rest  unto  your  souls.  For  my  yoke  is 
easy,  and  my  burden  is  light. — Matt.  xi. 
28-30. 

The  Children's  Welcome.  Then  were 
there  brought  unto  him  little  children,  that 
he  should  put  his  hands  on  them,  and  pray  : 
and  the  disciples  rebuked  them.  But  Jesus 
said,  Suffer  little  children,  and  forbid  them 
not,  to  come  unto  me  ;  for  of  such  is  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.  And  he  laid  his  hands 
on  them,  and  departed  thence. — Matt.  xix. 
13-15. 

The  Gospel's  Call  in  Parable.  And  Jesus 
answered   and   spake   unto    them   again   by 


238  BIBLE  GEMS. 

parables,  and  said,  The  kingdom  ot  neaven 
is  like  unto  a  certain  king,  which  made  a 
marriage  for  his  son,  and  sent  forth  his  serv- 
ants to  call  them  that  were  bidden  to  the 
wedding  :  and  they  would  not  come.  Again, 
he  sent  forth  other  servants,  saying,  Tell 
them  which  are  bidden,  Behold,  I  have  pre- 
pared my  dinner  :  my  oxen  and  my  fatlings 
are  killed,  and  all  things  are  ready  :  come 
unto  the  marriage.  But  they  made  light  of 
it,  and  went  their  ways,  one  to  his  farm, 
another  to  his  merchandise  :  and  the  rem- 
nant took  his  servants,  and  entreated  them 
spitefully,  and  slew  them.  But  when  the 
king  heard  thereof,  he  was  wroth  :  and  he 
sent  forth  his  armies,  and  destroyed  those 
murderers,  and  burned  up  their  city.  Then 
saith  he  to  his  servants,  The  wedding  is 
ready,  but  they  which  were  bidden  were  not 
worthy.  Go  ye  therefore  into  the  highways, 
and  as  many  as  ye  shall  find,  bid  to  the  mar- 
riage. So  those  servants  went  out  into  the 
highways,  and  gathered  together  all  as  many 
as  they  found,  both  bad  and  good  :  and  the 
wedding  was  furnished  with  guests. — Matt. 
xxii.  i-io. 

Another  Gospel  Parable.  And  when  one 
of  them  that  sat  at  meat  with  him  heard 
these  things,  he  said  unto  him,  Blessed  is  he 
that  shall  eat  bread  in  the  kingdom  of  God. 
Then  said  he  unto  him,  A  certain  man  made 
a  great  supper,  and   bade  many  :    and  sent 


BIBLE  GEMS.  239 

his  servant  at  supper  time  to  say  to  them 
that  were  bidden,  Come  ;  for  all  things  are 
now  ready.  And  they  all  with  one  consent 
began  to  make  excuse.  The  first  said  unto 
him,  I  have  bought  a  piece  of  ground,  and  I 
must  needs  go  and  see  it :  I  pray  thee  have 
me  excused.  And  another  said,  I  have 
bought  five  yoke  of  oxen,  and  I  go  to  prove 
them  :  I  pray  thee  have  me  excused.  And 
another  said,  I  have  married  a  wife,  and 
therefore  I  cannot  come.  So  that  servant 
came,  and  shewed  his  lord  these  things. 
Then  the  master  of  the  house  being  angry 
said  to  his  servant,  Go  out  quickly  into  the 
streets  and  lanes  of  the  city,  and  bring  in 
hither  the  poor,  and  the  maimed,  and  the 
halt,  and  the  blind.  And  the  servant  said, 
Lord,  it  is  done  as  thou  hast  commanded, 
and  yet  there  is  room.  And  the  lord  said 
unto  the  servant,  Go  out  into  the  highways 
and  hedges,  and  compel  them  to  come  in, 
that  my  house  may  be  filled.  For  I  say  unto 
you,  That  none  of  those  men  which  were 
bidden  shall  taste  of  my  supper. — Luke  xiv. 
15-24. 

Grace's  Universal  Offer.  Verily,  verily, 
I  say  unto  thee,  We  speak  that  we  do  know, 
and  testify  that  we  have  seen  ;  and  ye  re- 
ceive not  our  witness.  If  I  have  told  you 
earthly  things,  and  ye  believe  not,  how  shall 
ye  believe,  if  I  tell  you  of  heavenly  things  ? 
And  no  man   hath  ascended  up  to  heaven, 


240  BIBLE  GEMS. 

but  he  that  came  down  from  heaven,  even 
the  Son  of  man  which  is  in  heaven.  And  as 
Moses  lifted  up  the  serpent  in  the  wilder- 
ness, even  so  must  the  Son  of  man  be  lifted 
up  :  that  whosoever  belie veth  in  him  should 
not  perish,  but  have  eternal  life.  For  God 
so  loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only 
begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in 
him  should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting 
life.  For  God  sent  not  his  Son  into  the 
world  to  condemn  the  world  ;  but  that  the 
world  through  him  might  be  saved.  He 
that  believeth  on  him  is  not  condemned  : 
but  he  that  believeth  not  is  condemned 
already,  because  he  hath  not  believed  in  the 
name  of  the  only  begotten  Son  of  God. 
And  this  is  the  condemnation,  that  light  is 
come  into  the  world,  and  men  loved  dark- 
ness rather  than  light,  because  their  deeds 
were  evil.  For  every  one  that  doeth  evil 
hateth  the  light,  neither  cometh  to  the  light, 
lest  his  deeds  should  be  reproved.  But  he 
that  doeth  truth  cometh  to  the  light,  that  his 
deeds  may  be  made  manifest,  that  they  are 
wrought  in  God. — John  iii.  11-21. 

Christ,  the  Spiritual  Bread,  Offered.  And 
Jesus  said  unto  them,  I  am  the  bread  of  life  : 
he  that  cometh  to  me  shall  never  hunger  ; 
and  he  that  believeth  on  me  shall  never 
thirst.  But  I  said  unto  you,  That  ye  also 
have  seen  me,  and  believe  not.  All  that  the 
Father  giveth   me  shall  come  to  me  ;  and 


BIBLE  GEMS.  241 

him  that  cometh  to  me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast 
out.  For  I  came  down  from  heaven,  not  to 
do  mine  own  will,  but  the  will  of  him  that 
sent  me.  And  this  is  the  Father's  will 
which  hath  sent  me,  that  of  all  which  he 
hath  given  me  I  should  lose  nothing,  but 
should  raise  it  up  again  at  the  last  day.  And 
this  is  the  will  of  him  that  sent  me,  that 
every  one  which  seeth  the  Son,  and  belie veth 
on  him,  may  have  everlasting  life  :  and  I 
will  raise  him  up  at  the  last  day. — John  vi. 
35-4o. 

The  Water  of  Life  Freely.  In  the  last 
day,  that  great  day  of  the  feast,  Jesus  stood 
and  cried,  saying,  If  any  man  thirst,  let  him 
come  unto  me,  and  drink.  He  that  believeth 
on  me,  as  the  scripture  hath  said,  out  of  his 
belly  shall  flow  rivers  of  living  water. — John 
vii.  37,  38. 

The  Good  Shepherd's  Call.  Verily,  veri- 
ly, I  say  unto  you,  He  that  entereth  not  by 
the  door  into  the  sheepfold,  but  climbeth  up 
some  other  way,  the  same  is  a  thief  and  a  rob- 
ber. But  he  that  entereth  in  by  the  door  is 
the  shepherd  of  the  sheep.  To  him  the  por- 
ter openeth  ;  and  the  sheep  hear  his  voice  : 
and  he  calleth  his  own  sheep  by  name,  and 
leadeth  them  out.  And  when  he  putteth 
forth  his  own  sheep,  he  goeth  before  them, 
and  the  sheep  follow  him  :  for  they  know 
his  voice.     And  a  stranger  will  they  not  fol^ 


242  BIBLE  GEMS. 

low,  but  will  flee  from  hitn  ;  for  they  know 
not  the  voice  of  strangers.  This  parable 
spake  Jesus  unto  them  ;  but  they  understood 
not  what  things  they  were  which  he  spake 
unto  them.  Then  said  Jesus  unto  them 
again,  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  I  am 
the  door  of  the  sheep.  All  that  ever  came 
before  me  are  thieves  and  robbers  :  but  the 
sheep  did  not  hear  them.  I  am  the  door  : 
by  me  if  any  man  enter  in,  he  shall  be  saved, 
and  shall  go  in  and  out,  and  find  pasture. 
The  thief  cometh  not,  but  for  to  steal,  and 
to  kill,  and  to  destroy  :  I  am  come  that  they 
might  have  life,  and  that  they  might  have  it 
more  abundantly.  I  am  the  good  shepherd  : 
the  good  shepherd  givethhis  life  for  the  sheep. 
But  he  that  is  a  hireling,  and  not  the  shep- 
herd, whose  own  the  sheep  are  not,  seeth 
the  wolf  coming,  and  leaveth  the  sheep, 
and  fleeth  ;  and  the  wolf  catcheth  them,  and 
scattereth  the  sheep.  The  hireling  fleeth, 
because  he  is  a  hireling,  and  careth  not  for 
the  sheep.  I  am  the  good  shepherd,  and 
know  my  sheep,  and  am  known  of  mine. 
As  the  Father  knoweth  me,  even  so  know  I 
the  Father  :  and  I  lay  down  my  life  for  the 
sheep.  And  other  sheep  I  have,  which  are 
not  of  this  fold  :  them  also  I  must  bring,  and 
they  shall  hear  my  voice  ;  and  there  shall  be 
one  fold,  and  one  shepherd.  Therefore  doth 
my  Father  love  me,  because  I  lay  down  my 
life,  that  I  might  take  it  again.  No  man 
taketh  it  from  me,  but  I  lay  it  down  of  my- 


BIBLE  GEMS.  243 

self.  I  have  power  to  lay  it  down,  and  I 
have  power  to  take  it  again.  This  command- 
ment have  I  received  of  my  Father. — John 
x.  1-18. 

The  Church's  Call.  And  the  Spirit  and 
the  bride  say,  Come.  And  let  him  that 
heareth  say,  Come.  And  let  him  that  is 
athirst  come.  And  whosoever  will,  let  him 
take  the  water  of  life  freely. — Rev.  xxii.  17. 


A  CLOSING  WORD. 

To  the  Reader  : 

And  now,  after  perusing  this  little  book- 
let, what  think  you  of  the  rich  mine  of 
truth  and  beauty  from  which  these  "  Gems  " 
were  dug  ?  Will  you  not  hereafter  make 
the  Bible  your  daily  Vademecum  ? 

The  Author. 


BS185.1 .1908 


Bible  gems 
Princeton 


Tte0,„,,talSemmar,-SpwUbW 


1   1012  00057  7926 


